Saxophonist Don Braden Presents Earth Wind and Wonder Volume 2, a dynamic and exploratory catalog of the works of Stevie Wonder and Earth, Wind & Fire, due out June 16, 2023 Saxophonist, composer and arranger Don Braden is excited to announce the June 16, 2023 release of Earth Wind and Wonder Volume 2, a follow … Read More
Peter Gamble, Jazz Journal Whatever the situation, saxophonist Don Braden always appears to be effortlessly in control of a piece without resorting to overstatement – as befits a musician releasing his 19th album. As the title implies, the inspiration for his latest album is the music of Earth, Wind and Fire and Stevie Wonder, music … Read More
Philip Booth, JazzTimes One strategy for making a recording project more accessible: Use popular melodies and themes as starting points. Don Braden, who deserves greater recognition as one of our era’s tenor sax titans, takes just such an approach with Earth Wind and Wonder, drawing from the chartbusting soul and R&B of Stevie Wonder and … Read More
George Harris, Jazz Weekly WHEN YOU HEAR OF AN ARTIST PLAYING “THE STANDARDS” WHAT COMES TO YOUR MIND? RIGHT. SOMETHING BY GERSHWIN, PORTER OR BERLIN. BUT AT ONE TIME, ALL OF THOSE SONGS WERE CONTEMPORARY PIECES. SO, ASKS DON BRADEN, DOES A STANDARD HAVE TO BE A SONG THAT GRANDPA KNOWS, AND NOT SOMETHING THAT … Read More
Doug Ramsey, ArtsJournal For a time, a cyst on his jaw threatened to end Don Braden’s playing days, but following his recovery the tenor saxophonist and flutist sounds as confident and inventive as ever. Braden’s generation was immersed in the music of Stevie Wonder and the pop/jazz ensemble Earth Wind And Fire. He adapted some of … Read More
William Kates, Bill’s Music Blog Don Braden – Earth Wind And Wonder, New Interpretations of Songs by Earth Wind & Fire and Stevie Wonder; Jazz Doesn’t Get Any More Joyous Than This For a musician of Don Braden’s accomplishment, there wouldn’t seem to be a project more potentially enjoyable, thrilling, and fulfilling as creating new … Read More
George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly Other artists have tapped into the Motown/R&B songbook, but Don Braden does it most successfully here, focusing on the songs of Earth Wind and Fire along with Stevie Wonder. He alternates quartets between Brandon McCune-Art Hirahara/p, Kenny Davis-Joris Teepe/b and Cecil Brooks III-Jeremy Warren/dr with percussionist Kahlil Kwame Bell added … Read More
Creative Perspective Music is proud to release Earth Wind and Wonder, the highly anticipated new project from saxophonist Don Braden. On this exciting new project, the world-renowned saxophonist explores the wide-ranging catalogue of Earth Wind and Fire and Stevie Wonder. Braden is joined by two stellar rhythm sections that include pianists Brandon McCune and Art Hirahara, bassists Joris … Read More
Jamaal Baptiste, Black Grooves Growing up in Louisville, Kentucky in the 1970s, world-renowned straight ahead jazz saxophonist Don Braden fell in love with the music of Earth, Wind & Fire and Stevie Wonder. According to Braden, “This is the music that first imprinted my teenage brain…and captured my heart.” Now, although this album pays tribute … Read More
