Photo via International Anthem’s Official Twitter

On Monday, Aug. 22, composer and celebrated trumpeter jaimie branch passed away at her home in the Red Hook neighborhood of Brooklyn, N.Y. The Chicago-based recording company International Anthem released a statement on her behalf yesterday evening relaying the tragic news.

Internation Anthem’s official statement was posted on their Twitter page, where they delivered the fatal report to fans and followers. They wrote, “At 9:21 pm on Monday, August 22, composer and trumpeter jaimie branch passed away in her home in Red Hook, Brooklyn. Her family, friends and community are heartbroken.” 

Later, the label followed up with an additional statement on its social media platform: “jaimie was a daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, friend and teacher; she touched countless numbers of people with her music and spirit, both of which are fearless, truthful and beautiful, and will live on in hearts and ears forever.” 

Moreover, they concluded: “jaimie’s family asks not just for your thoughts and prayers but also for your action. Show your love and support for your family and friends and anyone who may be in need — just like jaimie did for all of us.”

branch was born in Huntington, N.Y., on June 17, 1983. At 9, she picked her instrument of choice and began playing the trumpet. As a young adult, she attended the New England Conservatory of Music. After graduating, branch returned to her native Chicago–a city she called home from the age of 14 after her family relocated to the suburb of Wilmette, Ill.–where she explored a career as a musician, organizer and sound engineer.

In 2015 branch relocated to Brooklyn, N.Y., and in the years that followed, she released three albums as a bandleader; including 2017’s Fly or Die, the follow-up, Fly or Die II: Bird Dogs of Paradise, and her most recent delivery, 2021’s FLY or DIE LIVE. The musician also appeared on numerous collaborative projects, adding her chops alongside several celebrated jazz players. 

branch will be remembered for her uncanny ability to improvise on the trumpet coupled with her compositional skills, which allowed her to be a fluid part of the unscripted music scene in her chosen homes of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Chicago.

Read the official statement from International Anthem below.