Multiple Billboard hit charting saxophonist and Amazon.com #1 selling smooth jazz artist with his latest album “Lookin’ Up”.
“Tom exceeds even my high expectations with his soulful heartfelt playing. He is my kind of musician! He nailed everything and projected what seemed like unlimited energy!”
International Billboard charting jazz saxophonist Tom Braxton has garnered critical acclaim while thrilling audiences of all ages from coast to coast and abroad for over two decades. From Africa to Japan...from New York to L.A., Braxton’s distinct, melodic sound leaves audiences astounded, clapping, and on their feet screaming for more! His music can be heard on radio and streaming platforms such as Spotify and Pandora, and his albums have hit numerous jazz charts including Billboard, RadioWave, SmoothJazz.com, Groove Jazz Music, Capital Jazz Radio, and Amazon. That's why Jazz Review calls Braxton "one of smooth jazz's most prolific saxophonists...with all the required tools to become a major force." In the summer of 2020, Braxton signed with Innervision Records and released a single entitled "Lookin' Up." This fun, upbeat track was written and produced by Los Angeles keyboardist Herman Jackson. Tom’s second single, “Hope for Tomorrow” features the jazz icon Bob James. Both singles landed on the Smooth Jazz Billboard Chart and ranked #1 on Amazon’s Best Seller and New Releases list! Tom’s album, also entitled Lookin' Up, was released on August 6, 2021. Tom has released three singles from his upcoming CD, “Flashback” set to drop in February 2026. In the summer of 2023, he released his hit single, “Hub City Jam” featuring Rick Braun. This lively funky groove, produced by Blake Aaron, was inspired by his love for his hometown of Lubbock, TX. The single was added to Spotify’s popular “New Smooth Jazz” playlist as well as Pandora’s “New Smooth Jazz Today” playlist. It also received widespread recognition on the smooth jazz charts. In his second single, “Canyon Dreams”, Braxton captures the calm and relaxing vista behind his childhood home. The lilting melody and infectious groove are designed to inspire the listener to reflect and dream. “East Side Hang”, his third single, is a slamming musical neighborhood block party that pays homage to his community in west Texas. Tom celebrates his sister with his latest single, Ruby J.,a fun groove that captures her playful nature. Ruby's early piano playing inspired Braxton to begin his musical journey around 8 years of age. Additionally, this versatile instrumentalist has recorded ten albums including The Other Side, The Next Chapter, Endless Highway, and Imagine This on the Pacific Coast Jazz label and Bounce on the Rendezvous label. The Next Chapter features Grammy winners Bob James, Earl Klugh, and Ricky Lawson, as well as one of Smooth Jazz's most beloved guitarists, Peter White. They all lend their amazing talents to stellar duets with Tom's lyrical saxophone. He was inducted into the West Texas Walk of Fame in 2017. He has been a featured artist and fan favorite on the Smooth Jazz Cruise for 15 years. This charismatic performer has been a headliner on the Algarve Smooth Jazz Festival in Portugal, the Mallorca Smooth Jazz Festival in Mallorca, Spain, the Stanbic Jazz Festival in Ghana, the Smooth Jazz Europe Festival in the Netherlands, and the Nile Gold Jazz Safari in Uganda. He was also showcased on the Java Jazz Festival in Jakarta, Indonesia. Braxton toured with Earl Klugh in the U.S., with past tours in South Africa, Malawi, Mozambique, Ghana, and Japan. He also performed with Keiko Matsui in Russia, Eastern Europe, Malaysia, and Japan. For 17 years, Tom toured extensively with Wayman Tisdale as his Musical Director. Braxton has shared the stage with many great artists including Dave Koz, Rick Braun, Peter White, Brian Culbertson, Bob James, Lee Ritenour, George Duke, Kirk Whalum, Jonathan Butler, Sheila E., Aretha Franklin, Luther Vandross, and Philip Bailey. He has been featured in media and publications such as JAZZIZ, Smooth Jazz News, The Saxophone Journal, CBS's The Saturday Early Show, Ugandan Television, and Daystar Television Network.
A more extensive bio is here ⟶
“Tom Braxton is one of my favorite sax players.”
“I was looking forward to performing with Tom Braxton on the Smooth Jazz Cruise because I had heard so many great things about him. But he exceeded even my high expectations and challenged me with his soulful heartfelt playing. He is my kind of musician! Whether interpreting my music, or performing his own originals with his band on the ship, he nailed everything and projected what seemed like unlimited energy! I can’t wait to play with him again. I’m a fan!!”
“A truly revered saxophonist...Tom Braxton is highly respected by both the world-class artists he performs with and the fans that watch him play! With a tone that is rich and distinctive, there’s no wonder why this star player commands attention.”
Algarve Smooth Jazz Festival in Portugal
Mallorca Smooth Jazz Festival in Spain
Seabreeze Jazz Festival in Florida
Clearwater Jazz Festival in Florida
Caprock Jazz Festival in Texas
Berks Jazz Festival in Pennsylvania
Stanbic Jazz Festival in Ghana
Smooth Jazz Europe Festival in the Netherlands
Nile Gold Jazz Safari in Uganda
Java Jazz Festival in Jakarta, Indonesia
The Smooth Jazz Cruise
Earl Klugh's Weekend of Jazz
Florida Smooth Jazz Weekend
Blue Note Napa
Blue Note, New York
Blue Note Hawaii
Yoshi’s - Oakland, CA
Jazz Alley - Seattle, WA
Spaghettini - Seal Beach, CA
Suite Food Lounge - Atlanta, GA
Middle C Jazz Club - Charlotte, NC
St. James Live Jazz Club - Atlanta, GA
The Jazz Kitchen - Indianapolis, IN
Perfect Note - Hoover, AL
Martini Blu Jazz Cafe - Houston, TX
Midway Jazz Festival - Midland, TX
Bethesda Blues and Jazz Supper Club - Bethesda, MD
Tin Pan - Richmond, VA
Firebird Music Festival - Scottsdale, AZ
Click on the cover art for Tom’s official album releases:
National jazz recording artist, Tom Braxton, is a seasoned music educator and clinician with more than 30 years of teaching experience in the public and private school systems. For the past 40 years, Tom has dazzled audiences of all ages with his exciting and exhilarating stage performances that showcase his exceptional skill on alto, tenor and soprano saxophones as well as keyboards and flute. In like fashion, students from pre-school through the college level have been mesmerized and inspired by Tom's hands-on approach and interactive teaching style which are key elements of his music workshops and clinics.
Tom completed his early education in the Lubbock Independent School District. After graduating valedictorian of his high school class, he attended Texas Tech University on music and track scholarships. In 1983, the summa cum laude graduate received a Bachelor of Music in Performance degree from Texas Tech. In August of 2022 Tom completed his Master of Music Education also from Tech. He relocated to Austin, Texas where he worked as a substitute teacher at both the primary and secondary level while maintaining a busy performance and touring schedule. In 1989, Tom moved to Dallas, Texas and joined the staff of Tyler Street Christian Academy as the band director. In his second year at Tyler Street Christian Academy, Tom was invited to also join the staff of Gospel Lighthouse Christian Academy to start a band program. Braxton supervised and directed both music departments until 1992. Over the next 7 years, he served as the principal woodwind instructor at Christ for the Nations Institute and worked as a substitute music teacher in the Carrollton/Farmer's Branch School District. In the fall of 1999, Tom was invited to serve as the band director at American Heritage Academy in Carrollton, Texas. The following year, Tom was appointed Fine Arts Director, and he functioned in that capacity for the next 10 years. Under his leadership, the music department won numerous awards at the district and state levels in band, orchestra, choir, art and theater. Braxton is currently a woodwind instructor at his home studio in Highland Village, Texas.
Tom has been a featured clinician and performer at Kirk Whalum's Gospel According to Jazz workshops in Memphis, Tennessee and Kansas City, Missouri. He has instructed worship leaders and musicians in churches in Seattle, Washington and northern California. Tom has also conducted seminars at the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame. Alongside Everette Harp and Kirk Whalum, he was a featured guest speaker on "Sax Chat," a panel discussion hosted by Gerald Albright for the Smooth Jazz Cruise. Prior to his performance at the Smooth Jazz at South Shore Festival in Michigan City, Indiana, Tom hosted a forum for an enthusiastic crowd of young, budding musicians. While on tour in the Netherlands, Braxton conducted a special master class at the Pop Academy in Leeuwardan. Tom has conducted workshops and performed at a variety of colleges and universities including Texas Tech University, Texas A & M Kingsville, Del Mar College, Cedar Valley College, Midland College, University of Texas at Dallas, San Angelo State University, Prairie View A&M and Tuskegee Institute, to name a few.
Growth and development of the musician
A review of general music skills
The importance of the proper equipment for music production
In the area of growth and development, the student will learn about the pursuit of the craft of music. The student will see the importance of the history of their particular genre of music and the priority of music education if they are to attain success. The business of music is also an integral portion of this segment. Character issues such as dependability, responsibility and preparedness round out the picture of what a professional musician should be. They will be given insight into the world of the working musician.
General music skills are critical and will be discussed. Tone production, scales, chord recognition, and sight-reading are some of the topics to be covered. Practice regimens and method books play a key part and the student will receive practical instruction in these areas. Working on weaknesses will be stressed.
Proper equipment can’t be overlooked and is a staple of the workshop. Students will learn what to look for when they are buying instruments, mouthpieces etc. They will also learn the proper care and maintenance of their instrument.
Clear instruction in this workshop will give the student practical information that they can take home and use immediately.
For booking information, contact Gina McCain at Major Scale Management (703)930-4594, ginamccain@majorscalemanagement.com
“When Braxton puts himself into his music he does so with everything he has. His jovial mood pumps positive vibes into the listener’s ears and puts one in a very bright state of being”
“When I’m on the road, Tom is the saxophonist I want to have with me...I love that sweet sound he gets on the horn.”
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