Brandon marsalis biography

American saxophonist, composer, and chairman (b. 1960)

Musical artist

Branford Marsalis (born August 26, 1960) is upshot American saxophonist, composer, and commandant. While primarily known for sovereign work in jazz as high-mindedness leader of the Branford Marsalis Quartet, he also performs much as a soloist with chaste ensembles and has led description group Buckshot LeFonque.

From 1992 to 1995 he led interpretation Tonight Show Band.

Early life

Marsalis was born on August 26, 1960, in New Orleans.^[1] Flair is the son of Dolores (née Ferdinand), a jazz chanteuse and substitute teacher, and Ellis Louis Marsalis, Jr., a instrumentalist and music professor.^[2][3] His brothers Jason Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, gain Delfeayo Marsalis are also blues musicians.

Career

Musical beginnings: 1980–1985

Marsalis gentle from Eleanor McMain Secondary Come-on School in 1978. While inferior high school he played in good health a R&B cover band callinged The Creators.^[4][5]

Marsalis then attended South University, a historically black institution in Baton Rouge, where proceed studied under renowned jazz instrumentalist Alvin Batiste.

At the stimulating of Batiste, Marsalis later transferred to Berklee College of Concerto in Boston. While a schoolboy at Berklee, Marsalis toured Aggregation playing alto and tenor sax in a large ensemble distraught by drummer Art Blakey. Joker big band experiences with Lionel Hampton and Clark Terry followed over the next year, take up by the end of 1981 Marsalis, on alto saxophone, challenging joined his brother Wynton imprison Blakey's Jazz Messengers.

Other accounts with his brother, including capital 1981 Japanese tour with Herbie Hancock, led to the tape of his brother Wynton's principal quintet, where Marsalis shifted top emphasis to soprano and spirit saxophones. He continued to profession with Wynton until 1985, smart period that also saw influence release of his own important recording, Scenes in the City, as well as guest decorum with other artists including Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie.

Expanded output: 1985–1995

In 1985, he united Sting, singer and bassist be beneficial to rock band the Police, proud his first solo project, The Dream of the Blue Turtles, alongside jazz and session musicians Omar Hakim on drums, Darryl Jones on the bass unacceptable Kenny Kirkland on keyboards.

Recognized became a regular in Sting's line-up both in the works class and live up until dignity release of Brand New Day in 1999.

In 1986, Marsalis formed the Branford Marsalis Composition with pianist Kirkland, drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts and bass contestant Robert Hurst. That year, they released their first album, Royal Garden Blues.

That lineup confess the quartet would go as good as to release four more albums, the last of which, I Heard You Twice the Gain victory Time (1992), won the Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Talking Album, Individual or Group.

In 1988, Marsalis co-starred in grandeur Spike Lee film School Daze, also rendering several horn-blowing interludes for the music in say publicly film.

His witty comments keep pegged him to many astonishing one-liners in the film. Proclaim 1989, Marsalis played a 30-second cover of "Lift Every Words and Sing" over the split logos of Lee's film Do the Right Thing.

Between 1990 and 1994, Branford played matter the Grateful Dead numerous ancient, and appeared on their 1990 live album Without a Net.

He later appeared on Wake up agitate Up to Find Out, natty full release of the Walk 29, 1990 concert he absolute in. Marsalis has described sovereignty popularity among Deadheads as "the most bizarre thing that intelligent happened to me."^[4]

In 1992, Marsalis became the leader of magnanimity Tonight Show Band on honesty newly launched The Tonight Strut with Jay Leno, after Nobble Leno replaced Johnny Carson.

In the early stages, Marsalis turned down the volunteer, but later reconsidered and push the position. He brought line him the three other comrades of the Branford Marsalis Composition, who became the Tonight Outlook Band's pianist, drummer and basso player.

In 1994, Marsalis blown the group Buckshot LeFonque (named after a pseudonym once reflexive by Cannonball Adderley), a fal de rol group with elements of tor and hip-hop.

That year, they released their first album, Buckshot LeFonque, which was mostly drop by DJ Premier.

In 1994, Marsalis appeared on the Alleged Hot Organization's compilation CD, Stolen Moments: Red Hot + Cool.^[6] The album, meant to hoist awareness of the AIDS wide-ranging in African American society, was named Album of the Collection by Time.

In 1995, Marsalis left The Tonight Show, gaining become unhappy in the role: he disliked that he was supposed to always show fervour, even for jokes he be taught were unfunny. He was succeeded as bandleader by guitarist Kevin Eubanks. In a well-publicized ask soon after leaving, Marsalis articulated, "The job of musical bumptious I found out later was just to kiss the detritus of the host, and Rabid ain't no ass kisser." Closure also complained that when agreed did not laugh or light up, some viewers' perception was, "Oh, he’s surly.

He hates dominion boss." When the interviewer intentionally if Marsalis did hate Leno, Marsalis responded, "Oh, I scorned him." He later stated rove he did not hate Leno, and that this was ingenious sarcastic response to what proscribed considered "a ridiculous question".^[7]

Transition: 1995–2007

In 1997, bassist Eric Revis replaced Hurst in the Branford Marsalis Quartet.

Kirkland died the masses year, and was replaced fail to see pianist Joey Calderazzo. The Branford Marsalis Quartet has since toured and recorded extensively. For shine unsteadily decades Marsalis was associated momentous Columbia, where he served reorganization creative consultant and producer target jazz recordings between 1997 advocate 2001, including signing saxophonist King S.

Ware for two albums.^[8]

In 2002, Marsalis founded his flip label, Marsalis Music. Its codify includes Claudia Acuña, Harry Connick Jr., Doug Wamble, Miguel Zenón, in addition to albums afford members of the Marsalis family.^[9]

Marsalis has also become involved trauma college education, with appointments presume Michigan State University (1996–2000), San Francisco State University (2000–2002), pivotal North Carolina Central University (2005–present).

After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Marsalis and Harry Connick, Junior, working with the local Bailiwick for Humanity, created Musicians Parish in New Orleans, with position Ellis Marsalis Center for Medicine the centerpiece.

Classical and Acting projects: 2008–2010

Under the direction use your indicators conductor Gil Jardim, Branford Marsalis and members of the Philharmonia Brasileira toured the United States in the fall of 2008, performing works by Brazilian author Heitor Villa-Lobos, arranged for unescorted saxophone and orchestra.

This endeavour commemorated the 50th Anniversary prepare the revered Brazilian composer merciless death.

Marsalis and the affiliates of his quartet joined say publicly North Carolina Symphony for American Spectrum, released in February 2009 by Sweden's BIS Records. Grandeur album showcases Marsalis and class orchestra performing a range recompense American music by Michael Daugherty, John Williams, Ned Rorem take precedence Christopher Rouse, while being conducted by Grant Llewellyn.

Marsalis wrote the music for the 2010 Broadway revival of the Honourable Wilson play Fences.

On July 14, 2010, Marsalis made coronet debut with the New Dynasty Philharmonic on Central Park's Brilliant Lawn. Led by conductor Andrey Boreyko, Marsalis and the In mint condition York Philharmonic performed Glazunov's "Concerto for Alto Saxophone" and Schuloff's "Hot-Sonate for Alto Saxophone celebrated Orchestra." Boreyko, Marsalis and description Philharmonic performed the same info again in Vail, CO after that month and four solon times at Avery Fisher Anteroom in New York, NY rectitude following February.

2011–present

In June 2011, after working together for glare at 10 years in a come together setting, Branford Marsalis and Joey Calderazzo released their first brace album titled Songs of Amusement and Melancholy, on Branford's designation, Marsalis Music. Their first popular performance was at the 2011 TD Toronto Jazz Festival.

In 2012, Branford Marsalis released Four MFs Playin' Tunes on gilded 180-gram high definition vinyl, ex to Record Store Day 2012 on April 21, 2012. That is the first recording allude to the Branford Marsalis Quartet inspect drummer Justin Faulkner, who one the band in 2009, pole was the first vinyl expulsion from Marsalis Music.

The recording was named Apple iTunes Eminent of 2012 Instrumental Jazz Wedding album of the Year.

Marsalis utter "The Star-Spangled Banner" on Weekday, September 5, 2012, at nobility Democratic National Convention in City.

In 2019 Marsalis released The Secret Between the Shadow humbling the Soul, which he record in Australia with his foursome.

Marsalis, commenting on the longness of his band and their approach said, ahead of greatness album's release: '“Staying together allows us to play adventurous, citified music and sound good. Need of familiarity leads to insulating playing, playing not to mark a mistake. I like appearance sophisticated music, and I couldn’t create this music with masses I don’t know.”^[10]

Personal life

Marsalis lives in Durham, North Carolina, house his wife Nicole and their two daughters.

He was protuberant Catholic.^[11]

Marsalis plays golf.^[4]

Awards and honors

• The Branford Marsalis Quartet received spruce up Grammy Award in 2001 oblige their album Contemporary Jazz.
• In Sep 2006, Branford Marsalis was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Melody from Berklee College of Opus.

  During his acceptance ceremony, inaccuracy was honored with a anniversary performance featuring music throughout career.^[12]

• Marsalis won the 2010 Stage show Desk Award in the classify "Outstanding Music in a Play" and was also nominated protect a 2010 Tony Award ordinary the category of "Best Latest Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Graphic for the Theatre" for realm participation in the Broadway resuscitation of August Wilson's Fences.
• Marsalis, chart his father and brothers, were group recipients of the 2011 NEA Jazz Masters Award.^[13]
• In Hawthorn 2012, he received an 1 Doctor of Music degree suffer the loss of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.^[14]
• In June 2012, Marsalis, along with friend discipline fellow New Orleans native Give chase to Connick, Jr., received the Tough.

  Roger Horchow Award for Largest Public Service by a Wildcat Citizen, an award given issue annually by the Jefferson Distinction for Public Service, for their work in the Musicians' Provincial of New Orleans.^[15]

• On March 26, 2013, he received the caste of Doctor of Arts Dominion, honoris causa from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota.
• In 2023, proceed received an honorary Doctor answer Arts degree from Duke University.^[16]

Instruments and setup

Other appearances

• Marsalis performed aboard Sting and Phil Collins at one\'s disposal the London Live Aid unanimity at Wembley Stadium on July 13, 1985.
• Featured as saxophonist deposit "Fight the Power" (1989) exceed Public Enemy.
• Marsalis assembled a crowd he called X-Men to gaping for the Grateful Dead stern the Oakland Coliseum Arena turn December 31, 1990.

  Other human resources were Kevin Eubanks, Robert Hurst, and Jeff Watts.

• Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! Guest on dignity "Not My Job" section frequent the show. On this efficient he claimed the saxophone was the sexiest instrument, then ridicule the accordion. In a following episode of the show, "Weird Al" Yankovic stands up go allout for the accordion; later guest Tweak Ma claimed the saxophone was in fact the sexiest.
• Interviewed please Space Ghost Coast to Shore Episode 10: "Gum, Disease" (aired November 11, 1994).

  Although justness Coast to Coast crew blunt, "He was the most great, and well mannered guest awe had ever interviewed", he didn't sign a release for intercourse rights, so the episode couldn't be on the Space Phantom Coast to Coast Volume Attack DVD.

• Marsalis was featured in Shanice's 1992 hit "I Love Your Smile". In the second onehalf of the song, he has a solo and Shanice says, "Blow, Branford, Blow"
• He played significance role of Lester in justness movie Throw Momma from excellence Train (1987) and the segregate of Jordan in Spike Lee's 1988 musical-drama film School Daze.
• Cameo as a repair man who asks Hillary on a hour in the episode "Stop Will!

  In the Name of Love", and as himself in high-mindedness episode "Sleepless in Bel-Air" polite the sitcom The Fresh Lord of Bel-Air (1994).

• Interviews with Marsalis are featured prominently in character documentary Before the Music Dies (2006).
• Marsalis was a guest aficionada on the final episode worldly the fifth season of Top Chef which took place withdraw New Orleans, Louisiana.
• On April 28 and 29, 2009, Marsalis touched with the Dead (the extant members of the Grateful Dead) at the IZOD Center replace East Rutherford, New Jersey, rekindling a relationship started when forbidden performed with them at first-class set at Nassau Coliseum coalition March 29, 1990,^[20] during which, according to Dead aficionados,^[who?] connotation of the greatest renditions use your indicators "Eyes of the World", was performed.
• On July 21, 2010, Marsalis guested with Dave Matthews Belt on the songs "Lover Involve Down," "What Would You Say" and "Jimi Thing" at goodness Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Metropolis, NC.

  This was the extreme time Marsalis had guested hint at Dave Matthews Band, although recognized had previously played with Dave Matthews and Gov't Mule telltale sign a cover of Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower" skew December 16, 2006, in Town, NC.^[21] Marsalis performed with blue blood the gentry Dave Matthews Band again distress December 12, 2012, at blue blood the gentry PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC.

  For the Summer 2015 trip circuit Marsalis has returned to boarder for 3 shows, May 22, 2015, in Raleigh North Carolina ("Lover Lay Down", "Typical Situation", Jimi thing), June 12, 2015 in Hartford, CT ("Death Rundown The High Seas", "Spaceman", "Jimi Thing", "Warehouse"), and July 29, 2015, in Tampa, FL ("Lover Lay Down", "Typical Situation", "Jimi Thing").^[22]

• Marsalis appeared as a mutual guest of Bob Weir bid Bruce Hornsby at two festivals in the summer of 2012.

  They first performed at prestige All Good Music Festival decline Thornville, OH on July 19, 2012, and then headed bare Bridgeport, CT for a rally round at Gathering of the Tendency the following day, July 20, 2012.

• Marsalis appeared as a key guest of Furthur for their performance at Red Rocks interrupt September 21, 2013.
• Marsalis appeared monkey a special guest of Extinct & Company for their above night of a two shade headlining performance at Lock'n Holiday on August 26, 2018.^[23]

Discography

As leader

• Fathers & Sons with Wynton Marsalis, Ellis Marsalis, Chico Freeman, Von Freeman (Columbia, 1982)
• Scenes in leadership City (Columbia, 1984)
• Romances for Saxophone (CBS Masterworks, 1986)
• Royal Garden Blues (CBS, 1986)
• Renaissance (Columbia, 1987)
• Random Abstract (CBS/Sony, 1988)
• Trio Jeepy (CBS, 1989)
• Crazy People Music (Sony, 1990)
• Mo' Safer Blues (Columbia, 1990)
• The Beautyful Slant Are Not Yet Born (Sony, 1991)
• Herve Sellin Sextet/Brandford Marsalis (Columbia, 1991)
• Sneakers (Columbia, 1992)
• I Heard Pointed Twice the First Time (Columbia, 1992)
• David and Goliath (Rabbit Smash down, 1992)
• Bloomington (Columbia, 1993)
• Buckshot LeFonque, Buckshot LeFonque (Sony, 1994)
• Loved Ones cotton on Ellis Marsalis (Columbia, 1996)
• The Black Keys (Sony Music, 1996)
• Buckshot LeFonque, Music Evolution (Sony, 1997)
• Requiem (Sony, 1999)
• Contemporary Jazz (Sony, 2000)
• Creation go one better than the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Sony Classical, 2001)
• Footsteps of Our Fathers (Marsalis Music, 2002)
• Romare Bearden Revealed (Marsalis Music, 2003)
• Eternal (Marsalis Opus, 2004)
• Braggtown (Marsalis Music, 2006)
• American Spectrum (BIS, 2009)
• Songs of Mirth skull Melancholy with Joey Calderazzo (Marsalis Music, 2011)
• Four MFs Playin' Tunes (Marsalis Music, 2012)
• In My Solitude: Live at Grace Cathedral (Marsalis Music, 2014)
• Upward Spiral with Kurt Elling (Marsalis Music, 2016)
• The Hidden Between the Shadow and glory Soul (Marsalis Music, 2019)
• Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (Milan, 2020)

Filmography

See also

References

External links