Award-winning Jazz-R&B Star Braxton Cook Releases New EP ‘My Everything’

Tomorrow, award-winning, Juilliard-trained singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Braxton Cook will share his new four-song EP My Everything, out via Nettwerk. Braxton opens up like never before about the triumphs and tribulations of balancing the two worlds of musician life and family life that make up ‘his everything.’ “Zodiac” and “My Sun” illustrate Braxton’s highly documented jazz prowess with furious tempos and electrifying saxophone solos. Renowned producer Elijah Fox appears on the latter. Elsewhere, Braxton showcases his alt-R&B chops on “Weekend” featuring Swiss soul singer NNAVY, and in the title track “My Everything.” 

Overall, the four tracks highlight Braxton’s many sides. His forward-thinking approach blends jazz, R&B, neo-soul, and hip-hop as an homage to the best of black American music. 

Speaking to the EPs title track, Braxton says “It’s an honest representation of the vicissitudes of life as well as a more clear depiction of my moodiness while trying to navigate those ups and downs. This song has a slightly darker tone sonically than the other songs on the EP but ultimately serves to inspire me and hopefully otherwise that things always turn around. In my life, I’ve observed these cycles and have worked through them in many facets of life. That experience gives me the confidence that whenever things feel dark or difficult, it is only temporary.”

After a successful run of shows in Japan and China, Braxton is excited to celebrate the release of My Everything with a very special performance at Songbyrd in Washington, D.C., on November 1st. Following the release, Braxton embarks on a European tour through Germany, Netherlands, France, and Poland before heading back for some fall West Coast shows. Find the full list of tour dates below and for more information visit: www.braxtoncook.com

Braxton Cook “My Everything” Live Performance Video
PREMIERES AT 9PM EST TONIGHT, OCT 31ST:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FV_DYdVnotw

My Everything is the latest EP from Emmy-winning, NAACP Image Award-nominated jazz/R&B saxophonist, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist Braxton Cook. Since launching his solo career, the Juilliard grad has established himself as a world-class virtuoso through star-studded collaborations (including Rihanna, Solange, Christian Scott, Tom Misch, and more) and his 21st-century approach to music, integrating contemporary and post-bop jazz, soul, funk, rap, and even gospel. These four beautifully composed tracks present us with a dynamic, spiritually uplifting reflection on hope, family, and the things that give our lives meaning. That isn’t to say they aren’t without tension. Cook spends time ruminating on his highs and lows, perhaps paying extra attention to the darker moments to truly find gratitude somewhere in the middle.

The initial inspiration for the project came from Cook’s appreciation for the jazz composers of the past who helped shape the genre. Pianist Mary Lou Williams provided the initial spark for Cook to begin writing the tune “Zodiac,” a bouncy tune with a wistful melody that feels like a contemporary update of Williams’ style. A prolific composer and mentor to bop legends like Dizzy Gillespie and Thelonious Monk, Williams remains one of the many underappreciated figures in jazz history. Her ambitious 12-part “Zodiac Suite” from 1945 provided Cook with a roadmap to explore his own work more deeply.

Thematically, My Everything brings us up to speed with where Cook is as a person. We get a firsthand look at how Cook navigates the triumphs and trials of family life. The spiritual heart of the project, the title track, finds Cook delving into the confusion and strife that come along with life’s growing pains.

“I really hope that people can connect with the record and that they can better connect with me personally. This EP speaks to the importance of having faith in the midst of adversity and having belief that when times are tough, things will ultimately turn around for the better. I believe My Everything captures that essence and hope that it inspires people to push through the dark times until they reach the light on the other side.”

BRAXTON COOK 2024 TOUR DATES:

November 1st | Songbryd – Washington D.C.
November 5th | Blue Note Jazz Club – Poznan, PL
November 6th | Quasimodo – Berlin, DE
November 8th | Volta – Brussels, BE
November 9th | BIKO – Milan, IT
November 11th | Bimhuis – Amsterdam, NL
November 12th | Cloud Nine – Utrecht, NL
November 13th | Bird – Rotterdam, NL
November 14th | Duc De Lombards – Paris, FR (Early Show)
November 14th | Duc De Lombards – Paris, FR (Late Show)
November 15th | The Jazz Lounge – Mallorca, ES
November 16th | The Jazz Lounge – Mallorca, ES
December 5th | The Triple Door – Seattle, WA
December 6th | The Get Down – Portland, OR