Branden Lewis is a dynamic performer, composer, and arranger, best known as the leader of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, a role he has held since 2022. With nearly a decade in the ensemble (having joined in 2016), Branden brings soul, tradition, and innovation to every performance. He’s a Grammy-nominated trumpet player whose musical journey—from Los Angeles to the heart of New Orleans—fuses deep roots with bold exploration.
Raised immersed in music—from church and marching bands to one of L.A.’s top youth orchestras—Branden discovered a calling that transcended plans: “I never planned on playing music for a living—I just always loved playing the trumpet.” His spirit for performance thrives on that passion.
In 2012, his move to New Orleans led to mentorship under Delfeayo Marsalis and regular appearances at Snug Harbor, quickly positioning him at the forefront of the city’s vibrant scene. Since joining Preservation Hall, he’s recorded with Dr. John on the Grammy-nominated Decisions (2014), co-founded the international Trumpet Mafia collective, toured with the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, and released his own album BLQ as a bandleader.
Branden has performed and collaborated with legendary artists across genres—Stevie Wonder, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Arcade Fire, Chance the Rapper, Jon Batiste, Reggie Watts, Dave Matthews, Corinne Bailey Rae, Foo Fighters—and now extends his creative vision into composing and arranging.
Most recently, Branden has taken the Preservation Hall Jazz Band into exciting, genre-crossing realms, sharing stages and experiences with artists like Robert Plant, Hozier, and Laufey—expanding the band’s reach while honoring its timeless tradition.
With a trumpet in hand, heart full of New Orleans spirit, and a deep reverence for craft, Branden Lewis continues to define what it means to be a 21st-century artist, committed to both preserving and shaping the future of the music he loves.