An image of Jaimie Branch

Jaimie Branch

Bio

Jaimie “Breezy” Branch (1983–2022) was a pioneering American jazz trumpeter and composer known for her bold, genre-defying sound. Born in Huntington, New York, she began playing trumpet at age nine and later studied at the New England Conservatory of Music. After relocating to Chicago, Branch became an integral part of the local music scene, working with artists like Jason Ajemian, Tim Daisy, and Ken Vandermark. In 2012, she moved to Baltimore to pursue a master’s degree in Jazz performance and founded her own record label, Pionic Records, which released music from her group Bomb Shelter. Branch’s debut solo album Fly or Die (2017), which featured an ensemble of prominent musicians, was celebrated for its innovative approach and was named one of NPR Music’s Top 50 Albums of the Year. Her work was deeply influenced by jazz icons such as Don Cherry and Miles Davis, and she continued to push the boundaries of jazz until her untimely passing in 2022.

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