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. His brothers Jason Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, and Delfeayo Marsalis, and father Ellis Marsalis, Jr. are also jazz musicians.

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Biography

Beginning of Professional Career

In the summer of 1980, while still a Berklee College of Music 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.

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.

Horns & Setup

• Soprano: Selmer Mark VI with a Selmer D mouthpiece and Vandoren V12 reeds
• Alto: Cannonball "Raven" (model A5-B Ice B ) with a Selmer Classic C* mouthpiece and Vandoren #5 reeds
• Tenor: Selmer Mark VI/ Super Balanced Action with a Fred Lebaye size 8 mouthpiece and a 3.5 Alexander Superial Reeds (7.0)

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.
• Interviewed on Space Ghost Coast to Coast November 11, 1994 Episode 11: "Gum Disease". Although the Coast to Coast crew said, "He was the most pleasant, and well mannered guest we had ever interviewed." He didn't sign a release for merchandising rights, so the episode couldn't be on the Space Ghost Coast to Coast Volume One DVD.
• 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).
• From 1992 - 1995 Branford was the leader of the Tonight Show Band , on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Initially he declined the offer but later reconsidered and accepted the position. He was succeeded as band leader by guitarist Kevin Eubanks.
• Branford was a guest judge on the final episode of Top Chef (Season 5) which took place in New Orleans, Louisiana.
• On April 28 and 29, 2009 Branford played with The Dead (The remaining members of the Grateful Dead)at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey, rekindling a relationship started when he performed with them at a legendary set at Nassau Coliseum March 29, 1990 during which, according to Dead afficianados, one of the greatest renditions of "Dark Star" (song), was performed.

Discography

Albums

• 2009 Metamorphosen
• 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 Beautyful 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:

• 2009 Your Songs - Harry Connick, Jr.
• 2007 Marsalis Music Honors Series: Bob French (2007) - Bob French
• 2006 Intersections (1985-2005) - Bruce Hornsby
• 2005 Occasion : Connick on Piano, Volume 2 - 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 The Soul Cages - Sting
• 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