Braxton Cook

Braxton Cook is an Emmy Award-winning artist and one of this generation's most exciting emerging voices. Not only does he exhibit world-class virtuosity on the alto saxophone, but Braxton is also a uniquely talented vocalist, songwriter, multi- instrumentalist, and composer who blends jazz, soul and alt- R&B into a fresh new sound all his own.
Braxton grew up in Greenbelt, MD, and after several moves up and down the east coast, his family settled in Silver Springs, Maryland. There, Braxton studied saxophone under the tutelage of world-class educator Paul Carr before graduating to attend Georgetown University. Braxton regularly worked on the historic U Street strip of Jazz clubs during college in his free time. By age 18, Braxton had already made quite a name for himself in D.C. with his band at Bohemian Caverns, HR-57, Twins Jazz, and other venues.
Three years later, Braxton transferred from Georgetown to The Juilliard School to continue his studies and pursue music full-time. As a freshman, Braxton met Grammy Award-nominated trumpeter Christian Scott and became a long-term member of his band, honing his skills on the road. Braxton is featured on several Christian Scott's albums, including Stretch Music, Diaspora, and the Grammy-Award nominated album Emancipation Procrastination. He also toured and performed with Christian McBride Big Band, Jon Batiste, and Marquis Hill. During this time, Braxton was selected as a semi-finalist in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition.
Later that year, Braxton released his debut EP Sketch, followed by his sophomore project Braxton Cook Meets Butcher Brown, launching his solo career and bringing him to festivals and venues across the country. In April of 2017, Braxton released his debut album Somewhere In Between, which allowed Braxton to tour nationally and internationally in the U.K and Japan. Somewhere in Between has amassed millions of streams and earned praise from peers, musicians, and critics alike. Saint Heron noted Cook's demonstration of "unmatched flexibility by merging multiple genres into an ardent, passionate and soul- filled project."
Braxton has worked with Rihanna at the 2016 VMAs and contracted horn players for her live shows at the Guggenheim, Radio City Music Hall, Afropunk Festival, Panorama Festival, and Made in America Festival. Most recently, Braxton was featured on Phony Ppl's recent album Mosaic and performed with them for their NPR Tiny Desk performance. In 2018, Braxton was featured on Tom Misch's U.S. Tour, which started with two performances at Coachella. Later that same year, Braxton embarked on his first international headlining tour, performing at Tourcoing Jazz Festival, So What's Next Jazz Festival, and the legendary Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club in London, U.K.
Five projects later, Fader Magazine has named Braxton a "Jazz Marvel" and "Jazz Prodigy," The New Yorker describes his music as "visceral" and "virtuosic," and Ebony Magazine listed Braxton as a "Top
Five Jazz Artist to Watch" (alongside Robert Glasper, Kamasi Washington, Butcher Brown, and Kris Bowers). Other press highlights include NPR "Tiny Desk" and features with BET, Okayplayer, Billboard, Interview Magazine, and PAPER.
Now signed to Nettwerk, Braxton is very excited to continue expanding his musical concept, compositional, and production skills and grow his community. Black Mona Lisa (EP) was released September 16, 2022 via Nettwerk Records and his next album “Who Are You When No One is Watching?” will be released February 24, 2023.