2026 State of the Art Prize, Indiana
2026 State of the Art Prize, Indiana
Brandon Meeks
Brandon Meeks
Brandon Meeks is a jazz bassist, composer, and cultural advocate whose work blends jazz, soul, and hip hop. Based in Indianapolis, he leads original projects, community-based workshops, and performance series that celebrate Black music. His credits include the film Miles Ahead and the Indy Jazz Fest commission Legalize Being Black.
Jazz, Performing Arts
2026
About Brandon Meeks
Indianapolis, IN
Brandon Meeks is a jazz bassist, composer, and cultural advocate based in Indianapolis. Known for blending jazz, soul, and hip hop, his creative practice centers on honoring the legacy of Black American music while pushing it into new spaces. A seasoned performer and recording artist, Brandon has shared stages with artists such as Robert Glasper, Thundercat, and Jazzmeia Horn, and his work appears on more than 100 independent recordings. His on-screen credits include a role in the film Miles Ahead starring Don Cheadle. Brandon leads several original projects including 3rd Sunday Jazz Concerts, a monthly live jazz series, and Harmony in Motion: Jazz Improv Workshop, a community-based educational program funded by the City of Fishers, Indiana. In 2020, he received an Indy Jazz Fest commission for Legalize Being Black, an interdisciplinary work that explored racial justice through jazz, classical music, hip hop, and visual media. He is a 2024–2025 Creative Renewal Arts Fellow with the Indy Arts Council and a 2023 recipient of the CICF Artist Ambassadors Travel Grant. With each project, Brandon continues to explore how jazz can foster cultural connection, tell untold stories, and serve as a tool for healing, memory, and imagination.
Brandon Meeks is a jazz bassist, composer, and cultural advocate based in Indianapolis. Known for blending jazz, soul, and hip hop, his creative practice centers on honoring the legacy of Black American music while pushing it into new spaces. A seasoned performer and recording artist, Brandon has shared stages with artists such as Robert Glasper, Thundercat, and Jazzmeia Horn, and his work appears on more than 100 independent recordings. His on-screen credits include a role in the film Miles Ahead starring Don Cheadle. Brandon leads several original projects including 3rd Sunday Jazz Concerts, a monthly live jazz series, and Harmony in Motion: Jazz Improv Workshop, a community-based educational program funded by the City of Fishers, Indiana. In 2020, he received an Indy Jazz Fest commission for Legalize Being Black, an interdisciplinary work that explored racial justice through jazz, classical music, hip hop, and visual media. He is a 2024–2025 Creative Renewal Arts Fellow with the Indy Arts Council and a 2023 recipient of the CICF Artist Ambassadors Travel Grant. With each project, Brandon continues to explore how jazz can foster cultural connection, tell untold stories, and serve as a tool for healing, memory, and imagination.