Branford Marsalis

Infobox musical artist 2
Name = Branford MarsalisPhoto by Palma Kolansky
Landscape =yes
Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
Birth_name = Branford Marsalis
Alias =
Born = Birth date and age|1960|8|26
Died =
Origin = Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, U.S.
Instrument = saxophones
Voice_type =
Genre = Jazz
Post-bop
Occupation =
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Label =
Associated_acts = Wynton Marsalis
Delfeayo Marsalis
Jason Marsalis
Ellis Marsalis
Joey Calderazzo
Eric Revis
Jeff "Tain" Watts
Kenny Kirkland
URL =
Current_members =
Past_members =

Branford Marsalis (August 26, 1960, Breaux Bridge, Louisiana) is an American saxophonist, composer and bandleader. While primarily known for his work in jazz as the leader of the Branford Marsalis Quartet, he also performs frequently as a soloist with classical ensembles and has led the group Buckshot LeFonque.

Biography

Early life

Marsalis is the oldest of six brothers born to pianist Ellis Marsalis, Jr. and Delores Ferdinand Marsalis. Three of his brothers are also musicians: Wynton Marsalis (trumpet), Delfeayo Marsalis (trombone) and Jason Marsalis (drums and vibraphone). The family was raised in New Orleans, where Marsalis’ father was a leading figure among the city’s modern jazz musicians as well as an educator and founding member of the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA). Marsalis began his studies on clarinet and alto saxophone, and after a year at Southern University transferred to the Berklee College of Music in Boston.

Beginning of Professional Career

In the summer of 1980, while still a Berklee student, Marsalis toured Europe playing alto and baritone saxophone in a large ensemble led by drummer Art Blakey. Other big band experience with Lionel Hampton and Clark Terry followed over the next year, and by the end of 1981 Marsalis, on alto saxophone, had joined his brother Wynton in Blakey’s Jazz Messengers. Other performances with his brother, including a 1981 Japanese tour with Herbie Hancock, led to the formation of his brother Wynton’s first quintet, where Marsalis shifted his emphasis to soprano and tenor saxophones. He continued to work with Wynton until 1985, a period that also saw the release of his own first recording, "Scenes in the City", as well as guest appearances with other artists including Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie.

A Diverse Decade

After meeting Sting in March 1985, Marsalis and pianist Kenny Kirkland joined the singer’s new band, which also included bassist Daryl “Munch” Jones and drummer Omar Hakim. Over the next two years, this group produced two albums and the video documentary "Bring on the Night". In 1986, Marsalis recorded his first classical album, "Romances for Saxophone", toured again with Hancock, and founded his own quartet with Kirkland, Robert Hurst (bass) and Jeff “Tain” Watts (drums). Over the next five years, Marsalis mixed recording and performing with his own band with further tours with Sting, acting appearances in films including "School Daze" and "Throw Mama from the Train", and work on film soundtracks where he was heard as featured soloist ("The Russia House") and contributed compositions ("Mo’ Better Blues").

In May 1992, Marsalis became the music director of "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno, where he led a band that included the members of his quartet. He also continued collaborating with a diverse group of artists including The Grateful Dead and Bruce Hornsby, and documented his activities in the 1992 film "The Music Tells You". While Marsalis continued to produce jazz albums during this period, including the 1993 Grammy-winning "I Heard You Twice the First Time", and began a 10-year-stint as the host of the National Public Radio program "Jazzset" in 1992, he also started to investigate a hybrid of jazz, rock, rhythm and blues and Hip Hop that led in 1994 to the first of two Buckshot LeFonque recordings. After leaving "The Tonight Show" in January 1995, Marsalis spent a year touring with the Buckshot LeFonque band.

Refocusing on Jazz, Classical Music and Education

While Marsalis would release a second Buckshot LeFonque recording in 1997, his primary focus since 1996 has been on his own quartet, classical performance and education. With original member Watts still on drums, bassist Eric Revis replaced Hurst in 1997, while pianist Joey Calderazzo became a member after Kirkland’s death the following year. The Branford Marsalis Quartet has toured and recorded extensively, receiving a Grammy in 2001 for its album Contemporary Jazz. After a two-decade association with Columbia Records, where he served as Creative Consultant and producer for jazz recordings between 1997 and 2001, Marsalis founded his own Marsalis Music label in 2002. With Marsalis as the label’s primary producer, Marsalis Music has issued audio and video discs that feature Marsalis’ quartet, the instrumental music of Harry Connick, Jr., new artists Miguel Zenón and Doug Wamble, and (under the Honors Series logo) veterans Alvin Batiste, Michael Carvin, Jimmy Cobb and Bob French. Claudia Acuña has also been signed by the label, with a disc forthcoming.

Marsalis placed greater emphasis on classical music since the 2001 release of his album "Creation". Performances with symphony orchestras and chamber ensembles worldwide have become a significant part of his itinerary, with his most intense period of classical playing scheduled for October and November 2008, when Marsalis tours the United States with Philarmonia Brasileira.

Marsalis has also become involved in education at the university level, with appointments at Michigan State (1996-2000), San Francisco State (2000-2002) and North Carolina Central University (2005-present). After Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005, Marsalis and Harry Connick, Jr. created the concept of a Musicians’ Village in the city’s Upper Ninth Ward, with the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music as the Village’s centerpiece. This project, undertaken by New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity with Marsalis’ and Connick’s active participation, has proven to be one of the most successful recovery efforts in the region, and has already provided dozens of musicians of modest means with the opportunity to own decent, affordable housing.

etup

*Soprano: Selmer Mark VI soprano saxophone with Vandoren V12 reeds for classical and jazz
*Alto: Cannonball "Raven" (model "A5-B Ice B") alto saxophone with Selmer Classic C mouthpiece and Vandoren #5 reeds for classical and jazz
*Tenor: Selmer Mark VI/ Super Balanced Action Tenor Saxophone with 3.5 Alexander Superial Reeds (7.0) for jazz.

Other appearances

*Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! Guest on the "Not my Job" section of the show. On this performance he claimed the saxophone was the sexiest instrument, then insults the accordion. In a later episode of the show, Weird Al Yankovic stands up for the accordion; later guest Yo-Yo Ma claimed the saxophone was in fact the sexiest.
*Marsalis was featured in Shanice's 1992 hit "I Love Your Smile". In the second half of the song, he has a solo and Shanice says "Blow, Branford, Blow."
*He played the role of Lester in the movie "Throw Momma from the Train" (1987) and the role of Jordam in Spike Lee's 1988 musical-drama film "School Daze".
*Cameo as a repair man who asks Hillary on a date in the episode "Stop Will! In the Name of Love" on "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" (1994).
*Interviews with Marsalis are featured prominently in the documentary "Before the Music Dies" (2006).

Discography

Albums

*2006 "Braggtown"
*2004 "A Love Supreme Live - (DVD/CD)"
*2004 "Eternal"
*2003 "Romare Bearden Revealed" - CD Issued in Conjunction with The Art of Romare Bearden (American painter)
*2002 "Footsteps of our Fathers" - Branford again revisits the works of past masters, interpreting the tunes from his own angle
*2001 "Creation" - some classical music rearranged for saxophone and orchestra
*2000 "Contemporary Jazz" - Grammy Winner in category Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group
*1999 "Requiem" - recorded days before the death of and dedicated to pianist Kenny Kirkland
*1997 "Music Evolution" - the second Buckshot LeFonque project
*1996 "The Dark Keys"
*1996 "Loved Ones" - a duet with his father Ellis Marsalis (piano)
*1994 "Buckshot LeFonque"
*1993 "Bloomington" - live recording
*1992 Sneakers - soundtrack to the movie
*1992 "I Heard You Twice The First Time" - Branford's quartet pairs up with some Jazz and Blues greats (including B.B.King, John Lee Hooker, Rip Tip Johnson) for a romp through the history of African-American music. Grammy Winner in category Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Individual Or Group
*1991 " The Beautiful Ones Are Not Yet Born" - with guests Wynton Marsalis (trumpet) and Courtney Pine (tenor saxophone)
*1990 "Crazy People Music"
*1990 "Mo' Better Blues" - soundtrack to the movie
*1989 "Do The Right Thing" - music composed and conducted by Bill Lee
*1989 "Trio Jeepy" - an album of standards featuring Milt Hinton (bass) and Jeff Watts (drums)
*1988 "Random Abstract"
*1987 "Renaissance" - on "The Peacocks": Herbie Hancock – Piano, Buster Williams - Bass
*1986 "Romances for Saxophone" - some little pieces of classical evergreens
*1985 "Royal Garden Blues"
*1984 "Scenes In The City"

Branford also appears as a "sideman" on:
*2007 "Marsalis Music Honors Series: Bob French" (2007) - Bob French
*2006 "Intersections (1985-2005)" - Bruce Hornsby
*2005 "" - A duo album with Harry Connick, Jr.
*2003 "The Marsalis Family: A Jazz Celebration" - A showing for four brothers- Branford, Delfeayo Marsalis, Jason Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, and their father, Ellis Marsalis
*2003 "Little Worlds" - Béla Fleck and the Flecktones
*1999 "Brand New Day" - Sting
*1996 "Mercury Falling" - Sting
*1996 "Live Art" - Béla Fleck and the Flecktones
*1995 "Joe Cool's Blues" - Ellis & Wynton Marsalis. Branford plays on the track "Little Birdie"
*1995 "Hot House" - Bruce Hornsby
*1995 "Tales from the Acoustic Planet" - Béla Fleck
*1994 "With the Tenors of Our Time" - Roy Hargrove. On track 3, "Valse Hot."
*1994 "Rob Wasserman: Trios" With Bruce Hornsby on "White-Wheeled Limousine"
*1994 "JLW" - Joe Louis Walker. On track 4 Inner City Man.
*1993 Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1 - Guru. Features on track four, "Transit Ride" along with Zachary Breaux.
*1993 "Harbor Lights" - Bruce Hornsby "Grammy Winner" for song, "Rainbow's Cadillac"
*1993 "Three Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" - Béla Fleck and the Flecktones
*1992 "Pontius Pilate's Decision" - Delfeayo Marsalis
*1991 "Karma" - Robin Eubanks. On track 7 The Yearning and track 10 Remember When
*1990 "Live It Up" - Crosby, Stills & Nash. Branford plays on tracks 5 Yours And Mine and on track 9 Arrows
*1990 "You Won't Forget Me" - Shirley Horn. Branford appears on the track "It Had to be You"
*1990 "Without a Net" - Grateful Dead. Branford plays on "Eyes of the World" (live album)
*1990 "We Are In Love" - Harry Connick, Jr.
*1987 "Nothing Like the Sun" - Sting
*1986 "Bring on the Night" - Sting (live album)
*1986 "Break Every Rule" - Tina Turner. Branford plays on the track "Paradise Is Here"
*1985 "Dream of the Blue Turtles" - Sting
*1985 "Opening Night" - Kevin Eubanks
*1985 "Black Codes (From the Underground)" - Wynton Marsalis
*1984 "Hot House Flowers" - Wynton Marsalis
*1983 "Think of One" - Wynton Marsalis
*1982 "Wynton Marsalis" - Wynton Marsalis
*1982 "Keystone 3" - Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers

External links

* [http://www.branfordmarsalis.com/ Branford Marsalis, official website]
*imdb name|id=0550364|name=Branford Marsalis