Brad Wagner

Alto Saxophone

An active musician throughout Northeast Ohio and beyond, Brad Wagner has appeared with many of the region's premier jazz ensembles and creative music projects. His performance credits include the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, Ernie Krivda's Fat Tuesday Big Band, Bobby Selvaggio's Hendectet Jazz Collective, Dan Bruce's Beta Collective, Sam Blakeslee's Large Group, The Cleveland Orchestra, The Cleveland Pops Orchestra, productions at Playhouse Square, and numerous other professional ensembles. Known for his expressive playing and stylistic versatility, Brad is equally at home performing classic big band repertoire, contemporary jazz, original music, and experimental works. Brad is a founding member of Pulse, a modern jazz quartet with Aidan Plank, Anthony Fuoco, and Dustin May. The group's self-titled debut album, Pulse, was released in 2025. A versatile woodwind performer, Brad plays soprano, alto, tenor, and bari saxophones, clarinet, bass clarinet, flute, alto flute, piccolo, and the Roland AE-10 Aerophone. He also leads several ensembles, including a big band devoted to original music and innovative arrangements, and collaborates regularly with acclaimed vocalist Vanessa Rubin, also in a big band setting. Brad earned his B.M. in Jazz Studies from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM). His work continues to reflect a deep respect for the jazz tradition while embracing creativity, collaboration, and artistic exploration. For more information, recordings, and upcoming performances, visit www.bradwagner.net