Written by Saxophonist Branford Marsalis (born 1960) is from New Orleans of the Marsalis clan. He is the younger brother of jazz trumpeter Wynton, and elder brother of jazz trombonist Delfeayo, and jazz drummer Jason; and he is the son of the esteemed jazz pianist Ellis Marsalis, Jr., and jazz singer Dolores Marsalis. With such a jazz founding, it seems more than any other musician of his family, he has criss-crossed the musical spectrum since his earliest years, regularly beyond jazz.
One of Branford’s first recordings was a huge commercial success (in 1985) with his participation on Sting’s debut solo album, The Dream of the Blue Turtles. The jazzy pop sound of that album is most memorable due to the soprano, tenor saxophone, clarinet, and percussion work of the young Branford Marsalis. Soon after that, he stepped away from jazz on his 1986 recording Dances for Saxophone, recorded with the English Chamber Orchestra with classical versions of Debussy, Stravinsky, Rachmaninoff, Satie, Villa-Lobos and other heavyweights.
His first recording as the Branford Marsalis Quartet was also in 1986, Royal Garden Blues with Jeff “Tain” Watts, Kenny Kirkland and Robert Hurst. It is a straight-ahead jazz affair, rather tame for the era. The same line-up, however, recorded their fourth album in 1992, I Heard You Twice the First Time, which won a Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental, which is odd since it has tracks with vocals including B.B. King (also on guitar), John Lee Hooker (vocals, guitar), and gospel-blues with Linda Hopkins. Still perhaps it is deserving of the award for its incorporation of the blues, gospel and early jazz (with a homage to Sidney Bechet), and when they do get down to the jazz, it has a sharp rise of energy and intensity compared to their debut.
Within this same period, in the late 1980s, Branford co-starred in the Spike Lee film School Daze (1988) and he contributed horn solo interludes to the film’s soundtrack. In 1989, he also contributed to Spike Lee’s opening on the soundtrack to Do the Right Thing. Then in the early 1990s, he took an unusual turn embracing jazz as a periodic collaborator with the Grateful Dead between 1990 and 1994. There are two live recordings of the Dead (from 1990) with Branford Marsalis: Without a Net playing on “Eyes of the World,” and Wake Up to Find Out (first and second sets). With the Dead, he has a lyrical and melodic side as a nice fit to the psychedelic or blues-rock-jam-improvisation masters. Branford sounds like a “bird” on Wake Up to Find Out, playing “Bird Song” then soars into his freest jazz on “Dark Star” and on their Space interlude.
From 1992 – 1995, Branford was leader of the Tonight Show band with Jay Leno, and he brought along the three other members of his quartet to join this group with Kevin Eubanks and others. By doing this, he did not lose touch with his jazz side, and most notably in 1994, Branford released one of his most danceable and adventurous albums ever; the Buckshot LeFonque project as an ambitious collaboration with hip-hop artists (DJs, turntablists, and rappers), Amharic vocalists, vocals of Maya Angelo, and with rock and heavy metal riffs (wrapped into his jazz).
While this was now thirty years ago, the constant juggle of projects across genres and blending popular musical styles across decades has not ceased. At this point, Branford has the stature of a jazz doyen, playing tenor and soprano saxophone with his quartet in his own way and across the spectrum. His current group includes Joey Calderazzo (drums), Eric Revis (double bass), both with Branford for over 20 years, while Justin Faulkner (drums) has held the stool for over ten.
The Branford Marsalis Quartet closes their European tour in November at venues listed below.
Friday, Nov. 1—Flagey, Brussels, Belgium
Saturday, Nov. 2—Muziekgebouw, Eindhoven, Netherlands
Sunday, Nov. 3—Prague Sounds Festival (Lucerna Grand Ballroom), Prague, Czech Republic
Tuesday, Nov. 5—The Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Thursday, Nov. 7—Grand Auditorium, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
Friday, Nov. 9—Palladium, Riga, Latvia
Tony Ozuna is a senior lecturer for the School of Journalism, Media & Visual Arts at Anglo-American University in Prague.
Last modified: November 1, 2024
