Brandon performs Wednesday April 18 at the Hyatt Regency New Brunswick

NBJP:      How old were you when you first played in front of an audience (beyond your family)?

BW:  I was fourteen years old and performed “The Pink Panther” theme for a talent show at summer camp.  Although I left the stage, I was told I got a standing ovation!

 NBJP: What’s your favorite jazz tune?

BW:  I’ve never been one to name a single favorite tune, but I love performing compositions by Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Cedar Walton, Benny Golson, and Chick Corea.

NBJP: You are a musician, is there another art in which you’d like to be accomplished?

BW:  Lately, I’ve been exploring the craft of acting and Improv Comedy.  There are a lot of parallels between the two, and although I’m not sure how far I want to take things as an actor, I’ve gained some valuable skills that have made me a a better person and musician.

NBJP: What’s your favorite non-musical pastime?

BW:  Snowboarding is a huge passion of mine.  Don’t worry, I wear a helmet and wrist guards.

NBJP: What’s the worst job you ever had?

BW:  Probably the first job I ever had.  I was fifteen and took a job making drink orders (non-alcoholic) at a local breakfast/lunch spot in Long Beach Island.  Minimum wage was 5.25/hr back then, and my hours were so unpredictable.  Although they made great pancakes, the place was poorly run.

NBJP: If you could live anywhere in the world where would that be?

BW  I’ve been fortunate to travel all over the world, and New York City is still the place I can’t wait to get back to.  Maybe one day I’ll live a bicoastal life, but for now, I love where I live.

NBJP: Finish this sentence –   I own too many

BW: …articles of clothing from Express.

PLUS ONE: When did you know that you wanted to be a professional jazz musician?

BW:  When I was sixteen, my parents took me to hear my teacher, Walt Weiskopf, perform with his sextet at Smalls Jazz Club. It was the first time I heard jazz performed live and I thought what I heard was magic.  I had no idea what they were doing, but I was determined from that day on I’d do my best to figure it out.  I haven’t looked back since.