Jaimie Branch, a renowned jazz composer, and trumpeter passed away on August 22 at the age of 39. International Anthem, a Chicago-based music publisher, made the official announcement in a press release.
Jaimie Branch, a composer, and trumpeter passed away at her residence in Red Hook, Brooklyn, at 9:21 p.m. on Monday, August 22. Her family, friends, and community are all devastated.
Jaimie was a daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, friend, and teacher whose music and soul, both of which are courageous, honest, and beautiful, will live on eternally in the hearts and ears of countless people.
The statement continued,
“Jaimie’s family requests not only your prayers and thoughts, but also your action.” Just as Jaimie did for all of us, show your family, friends, and anyone in need your affection and support.
Branch’s cause of death has not been disclosed, nor have funeral arrangements have been made public.
Every aspect of Jaimie Branch
Born on June 17, 1983, Jaimie Branch began playing trumpet at the age of nine. She moved to the Chicago suburb of Wilmette at the age of 14 and matriculated at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston.
Branch, along with Jason Ajemian, Keefe Jackson, Tim Daisy, Anton Hatwich, and Ken Vandermark, returned to Chicago after college to work as a musician, organizer, and sound engineer for local music.
In Chicago and New York, she performed alongside Toby Summerfield, Frank Rosaly, Tim Daisy, Daniel Levin, and Matt Schneider, among others.
Branch was a member of the ensemble Block and Tackle from 2006 to 2008, alongside Jason Stein, Jeb Bishop, and Jason Roebke.
She matriculated at Towson University in 2012 to pursue a master’s degree in jazz performance while launching the record label Pionic Records.
She left Towson after two years to pursue heroin addiction treatment in New York. In 2015, she moved to Brooklyn and began collaborating with artists including Mike Pride, Jason Nazary, Fred Lonberg-Holm, and many others.
Jaimie has also recorded with indie rock groups such as Never Enough Hope, Local H, and Atlas Moth. She worked with Chad Taylor, Jason Ajemian, and Tomeka Reid the following year, as well as Mike Pride, Tobey Cederberg, Shayna Dulberger, Yoni Kretzmer, and Weasel Walter.
Fly or Die was her debut solo album, released in 2017. In 2019, International Anthem released Fly or Die II: Bird Dogs of Paradise, her second studio album. Branch cited Don Cherry, Axel Dorner, Booker Little, and Miles Davis as musical influences.
Twitter users commemorate
Over the years, Jaimie Branch has received praise for her collaborations with renowned artists. When the news of her passing was verified, many took to Twitter to express their condolences.
Jaimie is survived by her mother, Sally Branch, her sister, Kate Branch, her brothers, Russell and Clark Branch, as well as her nieces and nephews.
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