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, and clarinet.

Playing woodwinds for 18 years, and classical piano for 23 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 The Phoenix, Trane Studio, The Mod Club, Lula Lounge, The Revival Bar, The Ontario Heritage Centre, The Carlu, 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 Ford Theatre, The Trinidad Steel Pan and Jazz Festival, and many other venues across North America. He has shared the stage with Lilith Fair Artist Julie Kryk, Eliana Cuevas, Shamakah Ali, Rich Brown, Canefire, 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 Dixie Band, Jordan Zaza, Clifton David, George Grosman, Sonya Collymore, Juno Nominee Jully Black, Juno Award Winner Johnny Favourite, and is the woodwind soloist and horn arranger for Classic Albums Live.