Brandon Meeks Music

Jazz Bassist | Composer | Cultural Advocate

About

Brandon Meeks is a jazz bassist, composer, and cultural advocate and a 2025 Creative Capital State of the Art Prize winner whose work reshapes Indianapolis’ cultural landscape by honoring overlooked Black jazz elders from the Midwest and cultivating the region’s next generation of artists.

Photo by Rich Voorhees
Photo by Deangelo Pollard
Photo by Jes Nijjer

Project Description

Unsung Giants: Indiana’s Hidden Jazz Stories Come Alive

Unsung Giants is Brandon Meeks’ Creative Capital–supported project highlighting the overlooked contributions of Black jazz elders from Gary, Indiana and the broader Midwest.

Through oral history, original composition, archival exploration, and live performance, the project documents the stories of living elders while creating new opportunities for emerging regional artists.

The project will be presented through Meeks’ 3rd Sunday Jazz Concerts series—an established hub for Indianapolis jazz—further reshaping the city’s growing cultural landscape while honoring the region’s musical heritage and brings long-overdue recognition to musicians who have shaped the region’s sound but remained largely undocumented.

Selected Highlights

Grants & Fellowships

  • 2025 Creative Capital State of the Art Prize (Unsung Giants)

  • Indy Arts Council Project Grant

  • Indianapolis Jazz Foundation Support

  • Creative Renewal Arts Fellowship

  • 2024 On-Ramp Creative Entrepreneur Fellowship

Performances & Festivals

  • Equinox Jazz Fest (inaugural year)

  • Indy Jazz Fest (commissioned composer)

  • Live at the Center (Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts)

  • BUTTER Art Fair (inaugural year)

  • Indiana Economic Development Corporation Brand Summit

Notable Collaborations

  • Jazzmeia Horn

  • Charlie Hunter

  • Bobby Broom

  • Mike Clark

  • Peter Erskine

  • Ralph Peterson, Jr.

  • Sonny Fortune

  • Nicole Henry

  • DJ Logic

Leadership & Residencies

  • Founder/Curator — 3rd Sunday Jazz Concerts (Indianapolis)

  • Creator — Harmony in Motion: Jazz Improv Workshop (Fishers, IN)

  • University of Indianapolis (Faculty, 2018–2023)

  • Youth jazz mentorship with Inspire Music Collective

  • Brandon’s dedication to uplifting the stories of our jazz elders and investing in young artists is exactly what keeps this music alive.

    Rob Dixon, Creative Director - Indy Jazz Fest

  • "Unsung Giants will have a lasting impact on how Indiana’s jazz history is celebrated and understood."

    Anna Tragresser Program Manager — Indy Arts Council

  • “A versatile bassist and powerful storyteller whose work bridges jazz tradition and contemporary culture.”

    Julia Gibbs, Executive Director — Miller Beach Arts and Culture District

Discography

A curated journey through the sound of Brandon Meeks—jazz bassist, composer, and cultural storyteller. From the classic acoustic jazz of Live at the Center for the Performing Arts to the raw honesty of Legalize Being Black and the R&B-infused soul of From the 317, this playlist reveals the full spectrum of Meeks’ musical world. Rooted in Black American music and shaped by the Midwest, these tracks blend tradition, innovation, and emotional depth.

Featured Videos

Live at the Center for the Performing Arts
A high-energy performance showcasing Meeks’ tone, improvisational voice, and ensemble leadership.

Trio Live at The Jazz Kitchen
A straight-ahead jazz trio performance demonstrating interplay, groove, and classic ensemble communication.

“Legalize Being Black” — Live at The Vogue Theater
A powerful performance blending musical intensity with social commentary, highlighting Meeks’ role as a cultural advocate.

Contact

Brandon Meeks

brandon@brandonmeeksmusic.com