Brandon Woody Joins Berklee Student Ensemble for Signature Series Concert

Brandon Woody Joins Berklee Student Ensemble for Signature Series Concert The acclaimed trumpeter, composer, and bandleader will lead a Berklee student ensemble on October 8 at the Red Room at Cafe 939.

September 11, 2026

By

Tori Donahue

Acclaimed trumpeter, composer, and bandleader Brandon Woody will lead a Berklee student ensemble in a Signature Series concert on October 8.

Image courtesy of the artist

Berklee's fall Signature Series will present a special performance with rising jazz star Brandon Woody on Thursday, October 8, at 7 p.m. at the Red Room at Caf 939. Brandon Woody Berklee Ensemble celebrates the renowned bandleader, trumpeter, and composer as he leads an ensemble of students in concert.

Recognized by the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times as a leading force in contemporary jazz, Woody has performed at renowned venues and festivals including the Hollywood Bowl, Montreal Jazz Festival, Blue Note Tokyo, and SFJAZZ Center. He has collaborated with artists such as Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice founder and artistic director Terri Lyne Carrington, Robert Glasper's Black Radio Orchestra, BADBADNOTGOOD, Solange Knowles, and Marc Cary, among many others. Committed to fostering community through music, Woody also leads master classes and workshops that engage directly with the next generation of musicians. In 2024, he signed with Blue Note Records, and in 2025, he released his debut album For the Love of It All with his longtime band, Upendo.

Selected and prepared by associate professor Matthew Stevens and interim managing director of the Berklee Global Jazz Institute Gregory Groover, the ensemble will bring its own voice to Woodys blend of jazz, gospel, and improvisation, rooted in the rich traditions of Black music and exploring themes of love, resilience, and community.

On behalf of the Signature Series, Gregory Groover and I are honored to present a student group performing with one of the important new voices on the trumpet, Brandon Woody, said Stevens. As a Blue Note artist, Brandon has quickly established himself as a distinctive and compelling voice, with a sound and musical perspective all his own. This collaborative performance gives our students the opportunity to work alongside an artist whose playing and musical vision are making an important mark on the current landscape.

The Red Room at Cafe 939 is located at 939 Boylston Street in Boston. Admission is $19.50 in advance and $16.50 for students. Tickets are available online and at the Berklee box office.

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Image courtesy of the artist

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