Until earlier today I’d never heard of Jaimie Branch, but this welcomed discovery was also a bitter sweet introduction into the tragic world of Jaimie Breezy Branch, a.k.a Jaimie Branch.
This young American composer and trumpeter had grown up from the age of nine with music a staple part of her life. Studying music by the time she was in her young teens, Jaimie Branch was recoding music by the time she was in her mid-20’s, playing in various bands before she embarked on a solo career in 2017. Fly Or Die was her debut album, issued in late 2017, which was followed by a few other albums before the sad news of her passing hit the world in 2022. After battling with heroin addiction, an overdose took her life in 2022.
I don’t know much else about her or her music right now, other than the track I heard today, but this I really like! Borealis Dancing hits in at just over seven minutes, but this moment flies in a blink. This instrumental piece is both gripping and suspenseful. Rhythms are big and engaging, whilst the jazz element is striking and dynamic, but never overpowering. The balance between melody and mood is just perfect and I love how this tune keeps you guessing. Just over 2:35 minutes in, the pace changes and the groove deepens, drawing in even further! If her legacy lies in tunes like this, I dare say this young artist will be remembered for many moons to come!
Borealis Dancing appears on her 3rd and final album, Fly or Die Fly or Die Fly or Die (world war) which was only completed a month or so before her death. Issued on Chicago’s International Anthem label, I’ve not listened to it all yet, but plan to investigate it further this evening! So, without further ado, I present you the very cool sounds of Jaimie Branch and her compelling Borealis Dancing. Enjoy!
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