{"id":9346,"date":"2024-07-26T18:37:15","date_gmt":"2024-07-26T23:37:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/postgenre.org\/staging\/4567\/?p=9346"},"modified":"2024-07-27T08:33:12","modified_gmt":"2024-07-27T13:33:12","slug":"braxton-cook-newport-at-70","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/postgenre.org\/staging\/4567\/braxton-cook-newport-at-70\/","title":{"rendered":"Room For It All: Braxton Cook Previews \u2018Newport at 70\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As the legendary Newport Jazz Festival turns seventy years old, it is all too easy to look back at the ages passed and the brilliant artists who made their way to the City by the Sea. However, sole nostalgia does little to push the music forward. That is not to say that lessons should not be taken from the ancestors. Nor is it to minimize the importance of the continued contributions of the art form’s elders. However, it is the voices of the young artists who provide a glimpse of the future. The Newport Jazz Festival has long understood the importance of presenting younger artists. This summer’s lineup is a testament to that perspective. However, in case someone did not get the memo, here comes the special group titled Newport at 70. Consisting of Braxton Cook, Giveton Gelin, Savannah Harris, Aneesa Strings, Caelan Cardello, Nicole Glover, Jazzmeia Horn, and Elena Pinderhughes, Newport at 70 is a veritable cadre of Millennial and Zoomer musical heavyweights. What makes the group particularly interesting, however, lies less in the years they have been on earth and more in the diversity of their paths of artistic development. Cook is an excellent example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Growing up more on R&B and gospel, there is a smoothness and soulfulness to the Juilliard-trained multi-instrumentalist’s sound than is typically found in most “jazz.” His background in this other music inevitably shines through whatever his tool of choice, whether alto saxophone, guitar, or vocals. In addition to records under his own name, Cook’s credits include a self-released collaboration with his fellow MDCVAers Butcher Brown and several albums by Chief Adjuah [formerly known as Christian Scott], including Stretch Music (2015). <\/em>He has also toured with Christian McBride, Jon Batiste, and Marquis Hill. In 2018, Ebony Magazine named him one of the Top Five Jazz Artists to Watch, alongside Robert Glasper, Kamasi Washington, Butcher Brown, and Kris Bowers. Cook is also deeply ingrained in the pop scene, having worked with artists like Rihanna and Solange Knowles. Recently, he has also been providing samples for pop artists. He recently won Grammy Awards for Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album for producer credits for a clip provided to Taylor Swift, which provided a beat on her song “Lavender Haze” [Midnights<\/em> (Republic, 2022)]. We sat down with Cook to discuss his music and preview Newport at 70.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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PostGenre: This summer at Newport, you will perform in a group called Newport at 70\u2026 <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Braxton Cook: I’m so honored to be part of this festival. It\u2019s crazy. A  dream. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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PG: You have played at Newport before, though.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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BC: Yeah, yeah. But as a sideman. So, I’m making my way up the ranks. I\u2019ve never had my name on the bill separately before. So that’s kind of cool. In the past, I\u2019ve played as a sideman at Newport with Christian Scott [ed. Note: now known as Chief Adjuah] in 2016, Marquis Hill\u2019s Blacktet in 2018, and maybe someone else.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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