Brent Birckhead is an award-winning artist, who provides an amalgam of traditional and popular styles. The Baltimore native’s approach to woodwind artistry is driven by his willingness to take creative risks alongside an admirable work ethic. Educated at Howard University (BME, MM), the artist was named best blues/pop/rock soloist and outstanding instrumental jazz soloist by Downbeat Magazine as part of the annual Student Music Awards. In 2011, Brent was named “Best Alto Saxophonist” by the Washington City Paper. Talent earned him the honor of performing and touring with legendary artists including Lauryn Hill, Nas, Wale, Eric Benet, Larry Graham, George Duke, and many more. The multi-instrumentalist, producer, arranger, and composer, presents Cacao—an album that chronicles his journey of expansion and self-reclamation. This 9-track sophomore release serves as a testament to his evolution as both an artist and a person.
Born amidst the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, Cacao reached completion as societies around the globe emerged from their collective hibernation. Four years after his eponymous solo debut, this harmonious masterpiece represents Birckhead’s courageous decision to forge a new path guided by the rhythmic beat of his heart. It is an album engineered to inspire those brave enough to create their road as they walk it, and Birckhead ensures that the path he has paved is impossibly smooth. During the historic pandemic and the ensuing solitude of quarantine, the Downbeat Award-winning artist chose to abandon the geographic and stylistic elements that once defined his musical identity. In a spiritual and physical exodus from New York City, he rediscovered his hometown of Baltimore, Maryland.
In this unexpected journey, Birckhead found a wellspring of growth. The forced isolation refined his creative process, transforming him into a one-man band driven by a relentless pursuit of productivity, experimentation, and dynamism. Birckhead shares, “Sometimes, we find ourselves clinging to habits and experiences that no longer serve us, instead of embracing the discomfort that accompanies growth.”
A studio overhaul provided him with a streamlined workflow, enabling him to become a more prolific composer and giving him the confidence to operate as both maestro and accompanist within a single record. Simultaneously, his physical relocation allowed for the deepening of personal relationships with immediate family members and the community that had supported him since childhood. With Cacao, Brent Birckhead invites listeners on a transformative musical journey. It is an album that encapsulates his evolution, passion, and resilience—a testament to his unwavering commitment to his craft and his unyielding spirit in the face of uncertainty. The album, due for release this April 5th, features Mark Meadows (Piano I Fender Rhodes) Romeir Mendez- (acoustic Bass | electric Bass), Dashiell 111- (drums), Deante Haggerty-Willis (guitar), Matvei Sigalov (guitar), Corey Wallace (trombone) ,Theljon Allen – (trumpet/ flügelhorn) and special guests.
For further information, please visit the artist’s social media links:
- https://www.instagram.com/brentbirckhead/
- https://www.facebook.com/brentbirckhead
- https://www.youtube.com/
Images provided by Chris DiGirolamo
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