Black History Month might not be on the agenda for certain people in power, but we’ll be celebrating it here at SoulBounce. NPR Music is also joining in on the celebrations with a stacked lineup for their acclaimed Tiny Desk Concert series popping off all month long. To begin their festivities, NPR invited SB fave Braxton Cook.
Braxton, who previously played for the series at home during the COVID pandemic and backed up a few of his talented friends during their respective sets, picked a handful of songs that span his recent output. First up was the moving “MB (for Ma’Khia Bryant),” his tribute to the Black teenage girl slain by police in 2021. The moving song showcased not only his saxophone chops but also the tightness of his band. He switched gears for “My Everything,” this time displaying his vocals, acoustic guitar and flute skills on the touching ballad from his EP of the same name.
He continued taking from the EP with his next selection, the instrumental cut “Zodiac.” The swinging, jazzy cut allowed Braxton to have a bit more fun as he expertly played his trusted sax. Then he let band member Mathis Picard get a piece with an exciting solo that took the song into the constellations. From there, he ended the set with “We’ve Come So Far.” The song, a yet-to-be-released track, veered back to the artist’s R&B side while offering a moment of hope and inspiration in trying times.
His set might have been short and sweet, but the DMV native helped to usher in Black History Month at Tiny Desk in an awesome way. Watch Braxton Cook revel in his craft when you press play below.
