biography

Saxophone and Woodwind player Braxton Hicks is an exciting new voice in Toronto’s music scene.  At home in an incredible range of styles including Jazz (Modern and Traditional), Pop, R&B, Caribbean, Rock, Latin, as well as pit orchestra work, Braxton is a versatile instrumentalist and leader, in demand as a soloist and section player on all the saxophones, flute, piccolo, clarinet and bass clarinet.

Playing woodwinds for 20 years, and classical piano for 25 years, Braxton’s musical education is as diversified as his playing.  He first studied woodwinds with multi-instrumentalist Don Englert (Buddy Rich, Lyn Biviano, Lighthouse), and while attending the Humber College Jazz Studies Program, studied with world-renown saxophonist Pat LaBarbera.  Being fortunate enough to study in New Orleans, Braxton received private instruction at Loyola University from Carla Bley Alumnus and Astral Project saxophonist, Tony Dagradi. He also recently studied with saxophonists Harry Allen (John Pizzarelli), Norbert Stachel (Tower of Power, Roger Waters) and Lenny Pickett (Saturday Night Live).

Braxton has performed at such venues as Roy Thomson Hall, The New Jersey Performing Arts Centre, The Phoenix, Trane Studio, The Mod Club, Lula Lounge, The Revival, The Ontario Heritage Centre, The Rex Hotel, The Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival, The Northern Lights Jazz Festival, the Bourbon Street Blues Company (New Orleans), Zooz Ampitheatre, The Oakville Performing Arts Centre, The Toronto Performing Arts Centre, The Trinidad Steel Pan and Jazz Festival, and many other venues across North America. He has performed or recorded with Lilith Fair Artist Julie Kryk, Matt Dusk, Eliana Cuevas, Shamakah Ali, Rich Brown, Alexis Baro, The Toronto Jazz Orchestra, Chendy Leon, George Koller (Holly Cole Trio), Gordon Sheard, Luisito Orbegoso, Canadian Idol’s Toya Alexis and Gary Beals, Celso Machado, Mark Kelso, The Victory Traditional Jazz Band, Jordan Zaza, Clifton David, George Grosman, Juno Award Winner Sonya Collymore, David Rudder, The Composer's Collective Big Band, Canefire, Andy Narell, Merry Clayton (Rolling Stones), Juno Award Winner Johnny Favourite, and is the woodwind soloist and horn arranger for Classic Albums Live.