“Smooth-as-silk alto and baritone saxophone work.” – Frank Alkyer, DownBeat Magazine

“Fans of large-ensemble music might notice the sturdy artistic thread that connects bandleaders Maria Schneider, Ryan Truesdell and Owen Broder.” – Bobby Reed, DownBeat Magazine

“Broder employs a past-via-the-present compositional technique with ingenuity and skill, producing music of genuine warmth and majesty.” – Brian Zimmerman, Jazziz Magazine

“Owen Broder plays with gospel-soaked gravitas.” – Raul da Gama, World Music Report

2023 and 2024 Rising Start Alto Saxophonist, DownBeat Critics Poll
2023 Regional Arts and Culture Council Grant Recipiant
2021 UNCSA Alumni Artpreneur Grant Recipient
2020 International Society of Jazz Arrangers & Composers Grant Recipient
2018 Debut Artist of the Year, NPR Critics Poll
2018 ASCAP Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award – "Goin' Up Home," Heritage
2017 Eastman/ArtistShare® New Artist – Heritage

Best Albums of 2022 – DownBeat Magazine

”The swing is impeccable.” | Editor’s Pick, Oct. 2022 | ★★★★ – Frank Alkyer, DownBeat Magazine

“A heartfelt tribute without ever aping the object of his affection or straying too far from the path. In short, he finds a perfect balance.” – Dan Bilawsky, New York City Jazz Record

“This conjunction of performance and intentions works delightfully throughout.” ★★★★ – Peter Vacher, Jazzwise

“What stands out is Owen’s ability to channel Johnny’s timbre and tone.” ★★★★★ – Jeff Krow, Audiophile Audition

Over 3 million streams on Spotify.

"A transcendent work of art." — Bobby Reed, DownBeat Magazine

"Highly enjoyable, as well as impressive." ★★★★ — Brian Priestly, Jazzwise Magazine

"Owen Broder has hit the musical jackpot with his exploration of American roots genres blending bluegrass, blues, folk, and spiritual idioms with a jazz swing feel." — Jeff Krow, Audiophile Audition

"The ultimate representation of the marrow, majesty, and malleability of American roots music. In imbuing wide swaths of the country with a jazz sensibility, Broder puts the “heart” in “heartland.” — Dan Bilawsky, Senior Contributor, JazzTimes

"Owen Broder and his crew examine the various sonic styles to emerge over the country’s history through a jazz lens—and the results are bracing." — Michael Roberts, Jazziz Magazine

Best Music of 2018 – Best New Releases, NPR Critics Poll
Editor's Pick, DownBeat Magazine
10 New Albums You Need to Know About (March 2018), Jazziz Magazine

"The ensemble is smart, cohesive, and credible... using virtuosic skills and rhythmic power to walk the line between irony and earnestness, with listenability as high a priority as group creativity.” ★★★★ — Howard Mandel, DownBeat Magazine

"Innovative as well as inspiring. Electric and emotional. The artistry of the quintet is exemplary.” — Travis Rogers, Jr., Jazz Times

“Together, the band make a glorious sound – more like a larger ensemble at times – providing intriguing, innovative and sublime music.” — Mike Gates, UK Vibe

2018 M-Prize, semi-finalists
2017 Umbria Jazz Festival's Conad Competition, finalists
2016 DC JazzPrix, finalists