Birckhead

About the Artist

Saxophonist Brent Birckhead is an award-winning artist, whose aesthetic is an intersectional amalgam of traditional and popular styles. Unbound by genre, Birckhead’s approach to woodwind artistry is driven by his compulsion for creative risk and deep respect for legacy. His place in the continuum of a storied lineage begins with his surname, Birckhead, and extends to his extensive musical education and work ethic as a visionary approach to life as a rising leader. Educated at Howard University (BME, MM), Birckhead 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. The New York Times calls Birckhead “One of the most riveting young improvisers in New York.” The Baltimore native's 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. On February 22nd Birckhead released his self-titled debut album on Revive music. The record is rooted in activism, introspection and sonic experimentation. The compositions are primarily original and deal with topics as varied as love, familial history and the fraught nature of the modern black experience. Birckhead is the professor of saxophone at Morgan State University and The New School.