BRAXTON BROTHERS - “They got the Soul & Jazz In their Genes!”
December 18, 2008 by admin
Filed under Featured Artists
The Braxton Brothers group is composed of Nelson Braxton playing piccolo and slap bass, and Wayne Braxton playing the alto and tenor sax.
The brothers Nelson and Wayne got initiated to music at an early age when the twins became members of their school band when they were in grade four.
Their father was employed as a DJ, thus, recording equipment are a permanent fixture in their house.
When they reached high school, they were already experts in playing a variety of musical instruments and were now members of the California All-State Honor Band.
Wayne entered Cal State Northridge and became a member of the school’s Jazz A Band.
Nelson, on the other hand, entered the San Francisco State University and studied tuba and afterwards toured Europe as a member of the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra.
The brothers later came together at the San Francisco State University, working together in a jazz quartet.
They were also privileged to be selected to join the Disney All - American collegiate band.
When they turned professional, Nelson toured with Najee. Wayne on the other hand joined Sheila E13 Cats and recorded Special Generation and the Gospel Group Crusade.
Then in 1996, they made their debut album as the Braxton Brothers with ‘Steppin’ Out’. The small Kokopelli label did the original release, but afterwards Windham Hill was licensed for its reissue.
In 1999, they did the album ‘Now and Forever’. The twin’s most recent album ‘Both Sides’ features the famous singer Ledisi from the Bay Area who sang on three of ‘Both Sides’ 12 tracks, ‘Better Than Nothing’, ‘Do What You Feel’ and ‘If You Love Me.’
Most of the songs of ‘Both Sides’ were mostly recorded at Blue Cherry Music, a new studio in San Jose.
After a well accepted concert with Ledisi at Subterranea in 2002, the brothers went to the U. K. to perform with the singer at London’s Jazz Café the following year.
TJ Grooves
Rare Soul Grooves & Soul Music TV
No relation to Toni Braxton, I guess? I don’t know these guys but it sounds like they might be well worth checking out! If they have backed Ledisi and play contemporary jazzy soul, I hope they return for more gigs in the UK.
They aren’t just a set of twins who can play many instruments…they play incredibly well. I’ve seen them live and you won’t believe our eyes how intricate the pieces are and how fast their hands are. More than that, you’ll love the upbeat jazz music.
Their type of smooth jazz makes you want to move and keep moving until the tune stops. It’s feel-good music that stands out because the tempo’s fast and the beats are in-your-face.
One of their earlier singles was “Both Sides”, which remains to be one of my favorites. The mix of saxophone and bass is astounding. They do interject modern technology with their music. I think that’s just wonderful…it sounds great. Soulful and blissful!
If you find something you really love to do, then I suggest you pursue it and see how far it gets you. These brothers sure did. I realize they took a risk but I guess that’s only because they believed in themselves. Their family was supportive too.
When I first heard the tracks in “Rollin’”, I thought that it didn’t sound old or dated, it had a current feel yet at the same time, I felt like I was home. It’s just right!
Yeah, I’ve heard a couple of their songs.. I must say their music is contagious. How do you categorize it? Funk..R&B…Jazz…? It’s influenced by all these I suppose.
What they’ve done successfully that so few have done before is fused old school with new school jazz. Keep it up guys!
These twins had a vision and the music industry’s all excited about it. They do ballads and funk and jazz and neo-soul…even blues gospel. I’d go as far as to define their music as urban sound. It’s new to my ears, it’s mesmerizing.
“Sunset Bay” is a perfect song if you want to lie back, relax, and get some perspective. The duo caught my ear maybe 2 years ago and since then I’ve been a fan.
The bass-sax combination is dynamite. You’ve just got to listen to “Sometimes.” It sets the mood for some lovin’.
Are they fraternal or identical twins? Because they have that bond, it must be why they perform so well together. I know of twins who could finish each other’s sentences…probably works the same way with playing instruments.
“Don’t Stop” is very hot…it’s totally danceable. In fact, I’ve been caught too many times by my boss swaying and bobbing to this tune.
Soon as that sax kicks in you know you’re in for a smooooooth ride. The Braxton twins sure play like they are tuned in to one another, but I prefer their tracks with a vocalist like the gorgeous Ledisi to complement their grooves.