Braxton Cook

Event Announcement

The GRAMMY Museum is thrilled to welcome Braxton Cook to the Museum’s intimate 200-seat Clive Davis Theater for an evening discussing his new album on the eve of its release, Not Everyone Can Go, his career, creative process, and more, with a special performance to follow.

About Braxton Cook

Braxton Cook is one of the most versatile musicians of our time, defying genre and logging a head-spinning list of collaborators and credits (including Taylor Swift, Jon Batiste, Giveon, Masego, and more). He’s toured the world multiple times over – including a Blue Note Tokyo debut in 2024 – earned an Emmy Award and NAACP Image Award nomination, and has made six appearances on NPR’s famed Tiny Desk Concert.

Creative Process and Album Insights

When artist, singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Braxton Cook started working on the album that would become Not Everyone Can Go, his life was going through many transitions that he just couldn’t ignore. After a whirlwind year touring across Europe, Asia, and the U.S., Cook reflected on the difficulties of juggling his career with family life. “It was a lot to manage,” he says. He noticed a theme emerging and came to the conclusion: It was OK to let go of things that weren’t serving him any longer. Transitions were natural as he stepped into fatherhood. “It was only pushing me more in that direction of understanding,” he continued. “There’s grief that comes along with having to let certain things go to make time for the things I truly value.”

Musical Style

One can hear Cook breaking through on Not Everyone Can Go, a mix of jazz and R&B that feels indebted to similar hybrids of yesteryear. Musically, the album conjures images of bright evening sunshine, when the temperature begins to cool. Not quite Quiet Storm, instead, Not Everyone Can Go dabbles between the margins, which won’t surprise those who’ve followed Cook to this point. Across albums like Somewhere In Between, No Doubt, and Who Are You When No One Is Watching?, he’s made a career of blurring the lines between genres, landing on a sound that isn’t one thing in particular. While that’s made his music tough to pin down, that also makes it all the more intriguing. That you can’t label it just R&B or just jazz lends to the music’s attraction.

Lyrical Themes

Lyrically, Not Everyone Can Go follows the trek of conflict, from where a romantic relationship faces challenges to when the couple makes it to the other side. The album soundtracks that journey without placing blame on one person or the other. Instead, Cook assesses his own role in the disconnect, as if doing the necessary self-work to show up fully for his significant other. The album's second half incorporates love songs about the rediscovery of affection, taking sonic cues from late-‘90s R&B, with its slow, body-rolling pace and lush electric keys. “The last part of the album is the action for me,” Cook said. “It’s the act of rebuilding these relationships the way that I want and the way that I see them, and that's what those love songs are about. ‘Bad’ is very much about taking my wife back out on a date. As if we were just courting each other all over again.”

Overall Message

Ultimately, Not Everyone Can Go is about embracing change, that when seasons arrive where moves are inevitable, you have to lean into them. “This particular record is a reminder to myself and others to take stock in what it is you have and be grateful for the breath in your lungs. It's like, Man, I'm alive. I got up today. I have two beautiful kids. And, it's going to be alright.”

Bag Policy

Please note that only bags 9 inches x 6 inches and smaller will be allowed for this event. Vinyl, memorabilia, gifts, etc. will also not be allowed inside the building.

Ticket Check-In Details

• Physical Valid ID Necessary for check-in.
• Member Check-In: 6:30pm
• Nonmember Check-In / Doors: 7:00pm
• Show Time: 7:30pm

Ticket Purchase Information

American Express® Card Members can purchase tickets from Thu 7/31 10:30AM through Sat 8/2 11AM.

American Express® Card Members have access to purchase Amex Presale Tickets for select events and select seats, during a specified period prior to the general on-sale dates for those events. Tickets must be purchased using an American Express Card. An American Express Prepaid Card cannot be used to purchase tickets. Amex Presale Tickets are sold by and fulfilled by third party ticket sellers (not American Express), and such tickets are subject to the rules, terms and conditions, prices and fees set by the ticket seller, event promoter and/or the venue. Amex Presale Tickets are subject to availability and supply may be limited. Not all seats may be offered; purchase limits and blackout dates may apply. Refunds, exchanges, and resale may be prohibited by the ticket seller. For more information, please visit americanexpress.com/entertainment.

Ticket Policy

The holder of this ticket is granted admission to the indicated facility for the purpose of viewing the specified event. This ticket is for use by the holder only and the holder is bound by this policy. This ticket is not transferable and may not be sold, otherwise conveyed or used for any other purpose, including promotion or commercial, without the prior written consent of The Recording Academy. If this ticket is sold, otherwise conveyed or used in violation of this policy, it will be deemed revoked and void, and its holder deemed a trespasser at all Recording Academy events. This ticket is a revocable license and admission may be refused by refunding the face amount of the ticket or ejection may occur for failure to comply with any facility rule. The holder agrees not to transmit or aid in transmitting any description, picture, recording or reproduction of the event. The holder acknowledges that the event may be captured and recorded by audio, audiovisual, and/or photographic means, and hereby grants permission to utilize the holder’s image and/or voice in any and all media now known or hereafter devised to further the interests and mission of the Recording Academy. It is unlawful to reproduce this ticket in any form. The holder assumes all risks incidental to the event, whether occurring prior to, during or after the event, and releases the facility, management, all participants and each of their affiliates, employees, officers, directors, members, partners, owners, managers, sponsors, contractors and agents from any loss, damage or expense resulting from any such risk. The Recording Academy reserves all legal rights and remedies. Save money on ticketing fees next time by becoming a GRAMMY Museum member! More info at grammymuseum.org.

Important Notices

ALL TICKETS ARE WILL-CALL ONLY AND PHYSICAL VALID I.D IS NECESSARY FOR CHECK-IN. NO TICKETS ARE DISTRIBUTED. NO TICKET TRANSFERS. NO REFUNDS.

EVENT TIME, DATE, DETAILS, & PRICE ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

IMPORTANT: PLEASE NOTE THAT TICKETS ARE NON-TRANSFERABLE AND RESELLING TICKETS IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED.