David Braid
Applied Piano
David Braid, Composer and Pianist
"Refreshingly uncategorizable"
– Paris Transatlantic
"Sophisticated and authentic"
– New York Observer
Hailed in the Canadian press as "one of his country’s true renaissance men when it comes to music" (The Ottawa Citizen), composer and pianist, David Braid is a nine-time Juno nominee, and winner of three Juno Awards for his solo piano recording, ’Verge’, large-ensemble recording, ’The David Braid Sextet Live’, and small-ensemble recording, ‘The North.” His debut classical composition, “Corona Divinae Misericordiae” received a Juno Nomination for Classical Album of the Year.
David Braid is a Steinway Artist, Composer-in-Residence for Sinfonia UK Collective and International Chamber Music Festival Casalmaggiore (Italy), Adjunct Professor at the Danish National Conservatory of Music, and Jazz Instructor at the University of Toronto. He is a recipient of the Ontario Foundation for the Arts’ prestigious prize: ’Paul de Hueck and Norman Walford Career Achievement Award for Keyboard Artistry.’
Braid concertizes his original music and improvisations in the UK, Scandinavia, Europe, Russia, Central Asia, East Asia, and Australia. Described as "brilliant" (Montreal Gazette), "enchanting" (The Age, Australia), "une force poétique" (Le Soleil) and "hauntingly beautiful" (The Globe & Mail), Braid’s music combines the discipline of European classical music with the spontaneity of jazz.
His arrangements and compositions are an integral part of the Chet Baker-inspired film, ’Born to Be Blue’ starring Ethan Hawke and his jazz score received praise for its "contemporary patina without sacrificing period authenticity" (The Times, UK). He also won ’Best Original Score’ and ’Best Original Song’ at the 2017 (Gemini) Screen Awards.
"Braid’s tone, touch, chord voicings and imagination make him one of the most interesting new pianists I’ve encountered in a long time." – Doug Ramsey, recipient of Jazz Journalists Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award (USA)