Saxophonist Brandon Douthitt wants to make his mark on Indianapolis' jazz scene
Brandon Douthitt was born and raised in Indianapolis, but he carries some of New York with him. It's where the saxophonist lived for three years after pursuing his master's degree at the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College, making his way as a professional.
Upon his Big Apple arrival, Douthitt called himself green and too friendly — traits he had to adjust to ensure people didn't take advantage of him.
"This was the biggest period of growth for me, not only as a musician but as a man," said Douthitt, 29.
The feelings of the initial move stayed with him, though, and as jazz musicians do, he expressed them in a composition. Later, at a concert in Indianapolis, he performed "If I Should Wait," a ballad about setting aside fear and familiarity to pursue a dream.
Audiences will be able to hear more from the saxophonist at a Black History Month tribute. From 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, Douthitt and others will perform at the Indianapolis International Airport. Admission is free.
Along with Adrienne Jackson, Jamichael Kyng Pollard and Crystal V. Rhodes, Douthitt is one of four featured artists for this year's Art & Soul, an annual celebration of Black art across February.
After starting to play saxophone around age 10, Douthitt fell in love with jazz while a student at Lawrence North High School. He went on to study at Butler University.
Over the years, he's picked up multiple instruments, including clarinet, flute, and EWI — an electronic wind instrument. In New York, he amassed a resume brimming with performances at Afropunk, with Solange and at the Highline Ballroom, among others.
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As Douthitt's musical skills developed, so did his deftness at surviving as a New Yorker. But he also recognized a downside.
"I felt like I was becoming a jerk, I was becoming rude," he said. "I felt and saw these changes in me, which I didn't like."
Douthitt left to teach at Kentucky State University, and in 2021 moved back to Indianapolis, where he said he has re-centered. The city's jazz musicians are carrying on a rich tradition, he said, citing a New York friend he met who models his guitar style after Hoosier icon Wes Montgomery. Douthitt now teaches; plays with his band, Tom Foolery and the Laughing Stock; and tours with 4PM In Soweto, a group run by his fraternity brother.
"I felt like I have some unfinished business," he said. "I felt like I needed to come back and really make a mark, so to speak, on the scene that has really empowered me."
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Contact IndyStar reporter Domenica Bongiovanni at 317-444-7339 or d.bongiovanni@indystar.com. Follow her on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter: @domenicareports.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Saxophonist Brandon Douthitt talks before Indianapolis airport concert
