Artist Interview by: Susan Frances
Imagine This, Tom Braxton’s latest solo release on Pacific Coast Jazz Records, places him not only as the dominant composer and navigator for the music, but also at the helm for the album’s musical direction. Previously, the smooth jazz saxman was well-known for his collaborations with his dear-friend and former NBA star Wayman Tisdale, who guided him along the recordings for his 2005 album Bounce, which was released by Tisway Productions (Wayman Tisdale’s company) and Rendezvous Entertainment (Dave Koz’s label). Bounce was produced by Tisdale and all of the songs were collaborations. Braxton credits much of the fabulous smooth jazz sound to Tisdale whom he says played a major role in the album’s successful single “Bermuda Nights” as Braxton merits, “He (Wayman Tisdale) produced and wrote most of that track. I added some of the melody, but he came up with the original concept.”
Imagine This is a bit of a growth spurt for Braxton as his music demonstrates what his mentors have instilled in him and he proudly documents them as, “Kirk Whalum, JT Braxton - my Dad, Wayman Tisdale, and Bernard Wright.”
He shares, “My Dad taught me to do my very best every time you pick up the horn because you never know who is listening. He has always been a believer in doing something right, or don't do it at all. He also instilled the art of trying to be as prepared as possible for every musical situation. He has always been a fan of my writing and he asked me about it often. He inspired me to keep composing and he was glad to hear that I wrote most of this record. All of these lessons helped during the recording process.”
Imagine This features Braxton’s mentor Kirk Whalum on the title track and other jazz luminaries like Kevin Whalum on “Peg,” Brian Simpson on “Escape” and Tim Bowman on “Evening Drive.” Braxton examines, “Regarding the guest artists, when I hear a composition I sometimes hear that artist playing on it.....their style...their sound... helps complete the concept.”
He observes about his songwriting, “I love writing ...it just takes time. I am not very high tech. I like to create at the piano. I have a baby grand in my living room and after the kids go to sleep, I sit down and sketch ideas. I like to write them down in pencil until I am satisfied with the composition.”
The concept behind Imagine This was his idea. “Everyone has dreams, and I want to stimulate your imagination to think about what positive aspects of your life are positive, imagine great things for you. Of course, we have fun getting there. I wrote '1 a.m.' at 1 a.m. Being a night person, some of my inspiration and imagination happens at that time. To open up your imagination, you need some 'Downtime,'” another track from the album, “this is a laid back song that reminds us we all need some R and R. Other songs are ‘Kaanapali Beach,’ a beach in Maui where I spent my honeymoon. Sometimes you have to get away to imagine...either physically or mentally. The vibe of the CD is to have fun, but I do want to take you on a musical journey. I hope that the compositions take you somewhere in your mind…not just move you as a groove.”
He admits, “I did a great deal more of the writing on Imagine This. I have been told over the years that I compose a little differently than the mainstream. It could be because I came from a different set of influences. I wanted to explore music that is commercially accessible to the jazz masses, but creative as well. I think that we accomplished some of that. Some of the songs are more open for improvisation, so I left some places to express myself on this recording in a different way than Bounce, as well.”
Imagine This was recorded in Arlington, Texas as he explains, “I recorded a great deal of it at Patrick McGuire Recording in Arlington, Texas. I have recorded parts of all of my CD’s there. Patrick and I have worked together over the years and it’s a warm comfortable place to create. The Pacific Coast signing came as a tip from Cheryl Hughey, my publicist. I had recorded a CD for Rendezvous Entertainment, which was a great opportunity, but for Imagine This, we decided to go with a different company. Donna Nichols, at PCJ (Pacific Coast Jazz), is passionate about music and aggressive about her artists. That is attractive to me.”
Practicing healthy competition keeps Braxton in shape as he notes, “I think that there is a little competitiveness in all of us, but you have to be very careful with it. I believe that God has gifted me with an ability to play music and he has gifted many others, as well. I appreciate that gift in other musicians and I am inspired by them, and I learn from them. I try not to compare myself with others because we are all growing in our ability.”
Braxton believes that having a good sense of healthy competition also has a strong correlation to playing sports. “I think that they are similar in discipline. There is a great deal about sports and music that is up to the individual. You practice your craft with the band or team, but you also spend a great deal of time alone practicing your instrument or your jump shot for instance. Plus, I think that athletes are entertainers in a sense and that can translate to the stage.”
Braxton was introduced to playing music and sports at a young age with his parent’s blessings. “My Dad didn't put a lot of pressure on me to be great at that time. He is a very patient man. He never forced me into the music field. I chose it myself when I was in high school. When I was trying out for all-state and other honors, he was very adamant about maintaining a good practice regimen.”
He impresses, “My parents were educators for 30-plus years. They instilled in my sister and me the importance of an education at an early age. Whether I had been or not, I wanted to go to college. I enjoy learning, reading and exploring. I would like to get my master's degree when I have time.”
Braxton attended Texas Tech University in Lubbock on music and sports scholarships. “I grew up there and I knew the music faculty very well,” he cites, “they offered me a track and band scholarship and told me I could be in all of the ensembles I wanted to, etc. It was a wonderful opportunity.”
College was a pinnacle experience for him where his life could have gone in either direction but it would be music that won out. “Many musicians can point to moment when they went to a concert and had an epiphany about becoming a musician. That didn't really happen for me. I can't remember my first concert. I do remember hearing a great deal of music when I was growing up. To this day, my Dad goes to sleep every night with great players from the past right by his bed.”
Braxton joined a band in college and his love of playing grew stronger. “Lubbock, Texas didn't have a bustling music scene,” he expresses, “but when I got to college, I met some musicians and we quickly formed a band called No Compromise. Me and this guy from New York, named Marcel Murray, wrote all of the music for the seven years that the group was together. That was a great experience.”
In 1992, Braxton released his debut solo album Your Move as he recalls, “After the group I worked with in college broke up, my wife Sharon and I decided it was time to produce a solo effort. I needed to establish a musical identity as a solo artist, plus people at my live performances wanted to take some music home with them. I had the privilege of working with Bernard Wright as a producer on this project. One of the highlights of the project was playing a duet with Kirk Whalum and having Dean Brown, his guitarist at the time play on the sessions, as well.”
His second album Katallasso would not be released until 1998. “I didn't mean for there to be that big of a time lapse between projects,” he acknowledges. “We started on Katallasso in 1994. We cut six tracks and then shopped it as a demo but it wasn't picked up. After about a year and half went by, we started finishing the recording. Kirk Whalum had written a song that we needed to record in LA and that took awhile to coordinate, and there were other delays. We finished in 1997 and Positive Music Records, Ken Navarro's label out of Maryland, released it nationally in 1998.”
His third album Face To Face in 1999 and his fourth recording Comfort And Joy in 2001 would follow in close succession with Bounce, proceeding and attracting great anticipation. His consecutive albums garnered him recognition from his peers, which enabled him to share the stage with such recording artists as the late Luther Vandross, Philip Bailey, Kirk Whalum, Jonathan Butler, Jeff Golub, George Duke, and Paul Brown. Braxton has also appeared on CBS’ The Saturday Early Show, BET’s Jazz Central, TBS, TNT, ESPN, CNN, NBC’s Inside Stuff, Positively Texas, and Fox-TV’s Good Day Dallas.
Additionally, he acquired slots on several music festivals like the Texas Jazz Festival in Corpus Christi, the Greenwood Jazz Festival in Tulsa, the Mozart Festival in San Luis, California, and the Spring Jazz Explosion in Philadelphia. He declares, “I really enjoy music festivals and I would like to play more of them around the globe. It gives you the opportunity to expose your music to large groups of people at once. Being a native Texas, I enjoy playing the Texas Jazz Festival on Corpus Christi, Catalina Island, Chene Park-Detroit, Newport Beach, etc. There are so many great ones with great people.”
In January 2008, Tom Braxton will be performing on The Smooth Jazz Cruise. He relishes, “The jazz cruises are a special musical environment. You have a solid week of great music. Artists are mingling in social and musical settings and every night is different. You never know what is going to happen. Plus, you build some great bonds with musicians and fans alike. I love the ocean, so who wouldn't enjoy an opportunity to play some great music, meet great people, and be on a cruise with my beautiful wife!! This is my third cruise, and it will be a special one because of the new record.”
He muses, “The cruise has some great memories because of that very fact. I got to jam with some amazing musicians that I really admire. Yes, as you get older you definitely want to preserve those special moments on stage.”
Although, Tom Braxton will be going on tour for Imagine This without his dear-friend Wayman Tisdale alongside him, there isn’t a chance that the two have called it quits from collaborating ever again. “We have never been in a bad fight,” Braxton insists. “He is a great guy and has given me some fantastic opportunities in this business. Wayman is immensely talented and has a ridiculous sense of humor. I have held my sides in laughter many times with him. One of my funny memories comes from the time when he was a Phoenix Sun in the NBA. We were boarding the plane and after we sat down, I heard a voice on the intercom system. It was Wayman telling the people that the in-flight meal had been changed to a complete soul food menu. It was hilarious!!”
There is no way that Tisdale and Braxton can ever truly break up. They just gave each other some room to go through their growth spurts and when it’s time to join forces again, they will adhere to what all athletes do and just go for it. But for now, Braxton is going for it with his new album Imagine This. The album is a compilation of smooth jazz tunes that show the best of what his mentors Kirk Whalum, JT Braxton, Wayman Tisdale and Bernard Wright have given to him, and he is excited about showing it to the world.
For more information: www.tombraxton.com
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