September 2007

Imagine This CD Review ~ Helium.com
By Susan Frances.  Smooth jazz saxophonist Tom Braxton took a unique approach to recording his parts on his 6th studio album Imagine This. His saxophone phrases play the role of a vocal melody creating emotive verses that dip, bend, flex, and coruscate like resonating reeds through the melodic folds.  Sentiment pours through his notes like a heart-felt missive.  His saxophone lines fly away with a cordial spree and enchanting twirls that wrap the listener around its web of comely motifs.  Produced and arranged by Braxton, the album shimmies and shakes with the touch of an ardent jazz player who knows how to concoct a mixture that emotes pleasure in the listener.  Full Review >>

August 2007

Imagine This CD Review ~ JazzReview.com
By Joe Montague.  I can remember when I was a little boy, and I would sit watching my mother frost or ice a cake.  My mouth would start to water and the excitement would build as I waited for her to finish making those smooth, creamy swirls so I could lick the beaters of the hand mixer (do they still have those?), take a spoon and dive into more of that creamy stuff lining the bowl.  Tom Braxton’s CD Imagine This recreated that same feeling for me the first time I put it into my CD player.  The man goes beyond smooth.  He is the icing on the cake and I could not wait to taste the next new groove I was about to hear.  Full Review >>

Imagine This CD Review ~ SmoothJazz.com
By Scott O'Brien.  He impressed me with his debut album “Bounce” in 2005, he impressed me with his sparkling sax work on Wayman Tisdale’s Smooth Jazz Cruise last winter, but he absolutely blows me away with his second solo album, IMAGINE THIS.  I’m imagining that this will be the big breakout release for a career that is really kicking into high gear.  It’s a total fit for today’s Smooth Jazz with superb playing and production, a compelling choice of material, and some all-star friends (Kirk and Kevin Whalum, Brian Simpson, and Tim Bowman) making special guest appearances.  Loads of airplay potential among these 11 tracks with the first single being an absolutely killer cover of Steely Dan’s “Peg,” featuring Kevin Whalum on the sizzling vocal refrain.  Tom’s got one other cover on this disc...a flavorful version of the Patrice Rushen hit, “Haven’t You Heard?” which features some knockout vocal work by Andrea Wallace.  The other nine tracks on the project are originals written either by Mr. Braxton or by members of his band.  They’re all good.  I’m especially attracted to “Escape,” which features Brian Simpson; the title track, featuring Kirk Whalum; “Evening Drive,” featuring Tim Bowman; and the Bossa-flavored “Kaanapali Beach.”  For a West Texas guy with some impressive credentials, not the least of which is as a member of Wayman Tisdale’s touring band for over a decade, it was inevitable that this amazing sax player would achieve major success on his own. The time has clearly arrived!

Imagine This CD Review ~ Smooth Jazz Therapy
August 17, 2007 ~ by Denis Poole.  Tom Braxton’s new CD, ‘Imagine This’, is due to hit record stores across the USA on August 21.  It’s his first on the Pacific Coast Jazz label and follows the outstanding 2004 effort ‘Bounce’ that was produced by Wayman Tisdale and which featured a plethora of top-notch tracks including the hugely radio friendly title tune.  The album proved, if proof was indeed necessary, that sax-man Braxton is a master of smooth, sophisticated contemporary jazz and now with ‘Imagine This’ his status is boosted even further.  This is not only by virtue of the eleven faultless cuts but also through the galaxy of smooth jazz stars, including Kirk Whalum, Kirks brother Kevin, Tim Bowman and Brian Simpson, who have clamored to collaborate with him.  Full Review >>

August 2005

Bounce CD Review ~ Smooth Views
By Elizabeth Ware.  Many people know and admire Tom Braxton as Wayman Tisdale's saxman of many years.  With Bounce, his 5th solo release and debut on the Rendezvous label, Braxton ably steps into the spotlight again with twelve upbeat, celebratory tracks.  Full Review >>

Bounce CD Review ~ JazzReview.com
By Sheldon T. Nunn.  Saxophonist Tom Braxton has been a mainstay in bassist Wayman Tisdale’s band for many years.  During Tom’s tenure with Wayman, he has recorded five albums and has established himself as one of smooth jazz’s most prolific saxophonists.  His latest CD entitled Bounce is a highly stylized display of upbeat funk and augmented by glowing cerebral melodies.  With this CD, Tom is making his debut on the Rendezvous Record Label, as he walks smooth jazz aficionados through 12 tracks of ear-catching music.  In fact, this newest release continues a patented formula of success that has been finely tuned and homogenized in a genre that is often very competitive.  Full Review >>