Don Braden Saxophonist brings it to BGSU tonight

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Don Braden

Tenor saxophonist Don Braden stepped onto the stage of Kobacker Hall at Bowling Green
State University with the rehearsal of the top jazz band in progress.Two student saxophonists were in
front of the big band trading jazz phrase. When they stepped back, the visiting hornman stepped up,
starting to blow before he was center stage in front of the band.Braden blew with the casual mastery of
a professional musician. Every note ringing, every phrase as finely turned as a well-crafted
woodwork.That this was a rehearsal didn’t make a difference to Braden. A professional musician since he
took a leave from his engineering studies at Harvard almost 30 years ago, he approaches even a rehearsal
with a college band as “gig.”“That’s the fun experiencing the energy,” Braden said.And it gives the
other musicians a sense how he’ll play on the show.“I’m going to bring it,” he said.Braden, who has
performed with masters from the jazz pantheon as well as composing and leading his own band, performs
tonight at 8 in Kobacker with the Jazz Lab Band I led by Dave Bixler. He’ll spend Wednesday on campus
teaching and then at about 8:30 p.m. he’ll jam with the faculty jazz combo at the club 149 North in
downtown Bowling Green.

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