Braxton Cook Interview

Braxton Cook is an American alto saxophonist, singer-songwriter, and one of the leading voices of his generation in jazz and beyond. Raised in Silver Spring, Maryland, he studied at Juilliard under Ron Blake and Steve Wilson before joining Christian Scott’s touring band. Cook has since performed with Christian McBride, Jon Batiste, Rihanna, and Mac Miller, and was hailed by Fader as a “jazz prodigy.” His solo career began with the EP Sketch (2014) and has expanded across acclaimed projects including Somewhere in Between (2017), Fire Sign (2020), and Who Are You When No One Is Watching (2023). In 2025, he released his sixth album, Not Everyone Can Go, further showcasing his fusion of jazz, soul, and R&B. Beyond recording, Cook has earned recognition for his NPR Tiny Desk appearances and collaborations spanning from Pixar’s Soul soundtrack to Taylor Swift’s Midnights.