If you’re based in Baltimore, there’s a good chance that you’ve already heard of Brandon Woody. For those of us who haven’t, Woody is a talented and fresh trumpet voice (compared by many to Freddie Hubbard) who's beginning to gain international recognition for his singular, soulful sound and his approach to music-making – and all without having left his home city. n
Woody was born and raised in Baltimore, starting his musical journey from age seven. Since then, he’s established himself amongst the Baltimore jazz scene, started his own band, and featured in Apple TV’s Lady of the Lake where he played fellow Baltimore trumpet player ‘Roy 'Tanglefoot' McCoy’, hand-picking the musicians himself to play the band. His feats don’t stop there - he’s worked on film scores, and even undertaken campaigns with brands such the fashion label Calvin Klein. At this point, if you haven’t heard of him (or seen him on TV or billboards), you may be like me and starting to think: why on earth not?
The reason could be down to the fact that For The Love Of It All is Woody’s first album recording. Signing with Blue Note at the end of last year, this will mark his debut recording as an artist, a journey supported by his band Upendo (which means ‘love’ in Swahili) that was initially formed by Woody in 2017. Praised for his ability to combine traditional old-school sounds with an innovative sense of modernness, for many listeners further afield this album will act as a gateway into the world of Brandon Woody and his playing.
For The Love Of It All is an apt title for this debut - it encompasses Woody’s confirmed love for music, as well as his love for all of the influences that make his music what it is: his hometown, his faith, and his connection to others. The first track ‘Never Gonna Run Away’ acts as a homage to the city that he returned to after making the decision to leave college, Imani-Grace’s light and soulful vocals repeating the refrain in almost like a meditative trance. This hymn-like and spiritual sound is a testament to Woody’s roots with faith growing up, his winding and soulful trumpet phrases both technical and deeply expressive. Troy Long, Woody’s pianist and long-time collaborator since their teen years, is worth a mention here too, for his simple but perfectly executed playing on this track.
‘Wisdom; Terrace on St. Paul St.’ sees the long tones that Woody is so fond of come to the fore. It’s full of spirit but also reflection, and the band provides a lot of the musical interest independent of Woody’s soaring trumpet up top. Bassist Michael Saunders keeps agile and intricate basslines faultlessly moving and drummer Quincy Phillips moves round the kit with percussive and detailed playing. ‘Real Love Pt 1’, co-written with Long, closes the album in a rousing and vibrant finale which features an outpouring from Woody’s trumpet that maintains intensity across the piece. There’s an essence of all the players performing with the same intensity in this track, a collective decision to hold nothing back. This is only expanded upon when Vittorio Stropoli enhances the texture with synths, the sound opening up in a whole new way.
For The Love Of It All is Brandon Woody’s love letter to music and to everything that makes it so essential to him. The camaraderie between the players is obvious to hear, and Woody’s testament that the band is more like a family than anything else isn’t hard to believe. This is a remarkably strong debut that places emotion and musical integrity at its heart. Without a doubt, Brandon Woody is one to watch: it’s certain that this artist in Baltimore has a lot more to say.