Home » Jazz Musicians » Branford Marsalis
Branford Marsalis
Growing up in the rich environment of New Orleans as the oldest son of pianist and educator Ellis Marsalis, Branford was drawn to music along with siblings Wynton, Delfeayo and Jason. His first instrument, the clarinet, gave way to the alto and then the tenor and soprano saxophones when the teenage Branford began working in local bands. A growing fascination with jazz as he entered college gave him the basic tools to obtain his first major jobs, with trumpet legend Clark Terry and alongside Wynton in Art Blakey’s legendary Jazz Messengers. When the brothers left to form the Wynton Marsalis Quintet, the world of uncompromising acoustic jazz was invigorated. Branford formed his own quartet in 1986 and, with a few minor interruptions in the early years, has sustained the unit as his primary means of expression. Known for the telepathic communication among its uncommonly consistent personnel, its deep book of original music replete with expressive melodies and provocative forms, and an unrivaled spirit in both live and recorded performances, the Branford Marsalis Quartet has long been recognized as the standard to which other ensembles of its kind must be measured. Its most recent recording, Four MFs Playin’ Tunes, was named Best Instrumental Jazz Album in 2012 by iTunes.
Branford has not confined his music to the quartet context. In addition to guest turns with a legion of giants including Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Hancock and Sonny Rollins, he has excelled in duets with several major pianists, including his boyhood friend Harry Connick, Jr. and the longtime pianist in his quartet, Joey Calderazzo. Branford’s first solo concert, at San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral, is documented on his latest recording, In My Solitude.
Classical music inhabits a growing portion of Branford’s musical universe. With a repertoire including works by Copland, Debussy, Glazunov, Ibert, Mahler, Milhaud, Rorem, Vaughan Williams, Villa‐Lobos and Sally Beamish (who reconceived a work in progress, “Under the Wing of the Rock,” to feature Branford’s saxophone after hearing him perform one of her earlier pieces), Branford is frequently heard with leading symphony orchestras including those in Chicago, Detroit, Dusseldorf and North Carolina as well as the New York Philharmonic. He also served as Creative Director for the Cincinnati Symphony’s Ascent series in 2012‐13.
Broadway has also welcomed Branford’s contributions. His initial effort, original music for a revival of August Wilson’s Fences, garnered a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music in a Play and a Tony nomination for Best Original Score Written for the Theater. Branford also provided music for The Mountaintop, starring Samuel L. Jackson and Angela Bassett, and served as musical curator for the 2014 revival of A Raisin in the Sun. Branford’s screen credits include the original music for Mo’ Better Blues and acting roles in School Daze and Throw Momma from the Train.
Read moreTags
Walter Smith III: Twio Vol. 2
by Jack Kenny
Walter Smith III is a deceptive musician. His deep jazz roots and distinctive tenor saxophone tone mask a technique that is both complex and understated. Smith rewards attentive listeners; his mastery lies in refinement rather than display. One of the pleasures of following Smith's career is hearing him change. Though no longer a young newcomer, he continues to evolve. His tone and timbre have matured, his rhythmic command has become more supple, and his avoidance of theatrics has ...
Continue ReadingBrian Culbertson: Day Trip
by Bridget A. Arnwine
Multi-instrumentalist Brian Culbertson is a musician with a vision, and on his Day Trip, he sets out to share that vision with his listeners. What is that vision? It is that of an artist who understands what music is capable of and his role as an artist to bring that all to fruition: the slow groove that evokes romantic love, the toe-tapper that stirs nostalgic memories, the funk-fueled jam that moves bodies out of their seats. Day Trip feels like ...
Continue ReadingMusic from the Branford Marsalis Quartet, Belgian trombonist Nabou Claerhout, Omar Sosa's latest
by Hobart Taylor
A Solstice Meditation with the Branford Marsalis Quartet Plus New Tunes from Nabou, Omar Sosa, the Kate Wyatt Trio and a Resurrected Live Performance from Freddie Hubbard. Playlist Host Speaks 00:00 Nabou “Flux Bloom" from Indigo (Edition) 00:20 Jakob Bro /Wadada Leo Smith/Marcus Gilmore “Imagine the Fire and Flames that Lights Up the Light World" from Murasaki (Loveland) 6:26 Host Speaks 14:48 Eva Novoa “From Left to Right" from Eva Novoa-Novoa /Kamaguchi/Cleaver Trio Volume 2 (577) 16:11 Branford ...
Continue ReadingBranford Marsalis Quartet At Miner Auditorium
by Steven Roby
Branford Marsalis Quartet Miner Auditorium San Francisco, CA October 23, 2025SFJAZZ CEO Gabrielle Armand's warm welcome set the mood for Miner Auditorium, and Branford Marsalis stepped on stage with the dry humor of a seasoned bandleader, admitting to a tough travel day before dissolving any hint of fatigue with the first downbeat. A sold-out crowd leaned in; the group responded with focus and an easy intensity that only comes from years of shared work. In ...
Continue Reading2025 Love Supreme Jazz Festival
by Nosa Malcolm
Love Supreme, a three-day open-air jazz festival, is held on the unique grounds of Glynde Place, East Sussex, UK. Now in its 13th year, the festival returns annually, typically during the first week of July, often blessed with summer sunshine. A beloved event for jazz and music enthusiasts, it offers a diverse lineup spanning jazz, soul, funk, R&B, and experimental sounds. Legendary jazz musicians perform alongside new and emerging talent, creating a dynamic blend of experience and raw energy that ...
Continue ReadingDelfeayo Marsalis: Crescent City Jewels
by Angelo Leonardi
L'Uptown Jazz Orchestra di Delfeayo Marsalis torna col suo estroverso programma che esalta la tradizione orchestrale swing e mainstream, più il multiforme patrimonio popolare di New Orleans in una sorta di gumbo musicale dove s'incrociano jazz, funk, R&B, cajun, zydeco eccetera. Anche questo nuovo album si propone di diffondere gioia tra il pubblico con esuberanza e groove ritmico. Una sorta di manifesto programmatico per un progetto nato nel 2007, con tre dischi alle spalle, programmi educativi nelle scuole ...
Continue ReadingBranford Marsalis Quartet at The Freight
by Ronald Davis
A collection of photos from the The Branford Marsalis Quartet concert at The Freight in Berkeley CA on March 11, 2025 featuring Branford Marsalis, Eric Revis, Justin Faulkner and Joey Calderazzo. ...
Continue ReadingLine-up Announced For 54th Annual Stanford Jazz Festival, June 21-july 31, 2026
Source:
AMT Public Relations
The Stanford Jazz Workshop today announced details of the 54th annual Stanford Jazz Festival taking place Sunday, June 21 to Friday, July 31, 2026, across multiple venues on the sprawling Stanford University campus. Having grown in both size and reputation since it first began in 1972, the Festival–which draws thousands of fans to the Bay Area–has become a destination for all arts lovers in one of the most bucolic settings in the nation. This year’s Festival celebrates jazz’s rich roots ...
read more
World-renowned Smoke Announces September Concert Schedule Including Club Debuts Of Branford Marsalis Quartet And Dave Holland New Quartet, Album Releases By Jazzmeia Horn And Christian Sands And More
Source:
AMT Public Relations
\Entering its second quarter century as committed as ever to pure jazz (All About Jazz),” SMOKE Jazz Club continues its 25th anniversary season with an exciting month of album release shows and club debuts. September kicks off with a residency featuring pianist Brad Mehldau (Aug 29-Sep 1). For the first time in the club’s history, SMOKE presents NEA Jazz Master Dave Holland at the helm of his New Quartet (Sep 4-8) and the long-awaited New York City appearance of Branford ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: Branford Marsalis
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Branford Marsalis' birthday today!
Growing up in the rich environment of New Orleans as the oldest son of pianist and educator Ellis Marsalis, Branford was drawn to music along with siblings Wynton, Delfeayo and Jason. His first instrument, the clarinet, gave way to the alto and then the tenor and soprano saxophones when the teenage Branford began working in local bands. A growing fascination with jazz as he entered college gave him the basic tools ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: Branford Marsalis
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Branford Marsalis' birthday today!
Growing up in the rich environment of New Orleans as the oldest son of pianist and educator Ellis Marsalis, Branford was drawn to music along with siblings Wynton, Delfeayo and Jason. His first instrument, the clarinet, gave way to the alto and then the tenor and soprano saxophones when the teenage Branford began working in local bands. A growing fascination with jazz as he entered college gave him the basic tools ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: Branford Marsalis
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Branford Marsalis' birthday today!
Growing up in the rich environment of New Orleans as the oldest son of pianist and educator Ellis Marsalis, Branford was drawn to music along with siblings Wynton, Delfeayo and Jason. His first instrument, the clarinet, gave way to the alto and then the tenor and soprano saxophones when the teenage Branford began working in local bands. A growing fascination with jazz as he entered college gave him the basic tools ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: Branford Marsalis
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Branford Marsalis' birthday today!
Growing up in the rich environment of New Orleans as the oldest son of pianist and educator Ellis Marsalis, Branford was drawn to music along with siblings Wynton, Delfeayo and Jason. His first instrument, the clarinet, gave way to the alto and then the tenor and soprano saxophones when the teenage Branford began working in local bands... Read more.
Place our Musician of the Day widget on your website or blog. ...
read more
The Adrienne Arsht Center For The Performing Arts Of Miami-Dade County Announces 2019-2020 Lineup For Jazz Roots Concert Series
Source:
Sheryl Feuerstein
The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County is proud to announce the 2019-2020 Jazz Roots season—six extraordinary, curated evenings of live music in the Center’s Knight Concert Hall that celebrate jazz’s rich history of fusion and cross-pollination. The Arsht Center is also proud to welcome new Jazz Roots presenting partner, EFG Capital. EFG is a global private banking group headquartered in jny: Zurich, Switzerland with regional headquarters in jny: Miami. The start-studded line up for Jazz ...
read more
StLJN Saturday Video Showcase: Branford Marsalis Quartet
Source:
St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
Today, let's take a look at some videos featuring the Branford Marsalis Quartet, who will be coming to St. Louis to perform starting this coming Tuesday, April 2 through Thursday, April 4 at Jazz St. Louis. Last seen here in 2017 with singer Kurt Elling, Marsalis and company are on tour in support of a new album, The Secret Between the Shadow and the Soul, released a month ago. While the long-running quartet- Marsalis on tenor and soprano saxophones, Eric ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: Branford Marsalis
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Branford Marsalis' birthday today!
Growing up in the rich environment of New Orleans as the oldest son of pianist and educator Ellis Marsalis, Branford was drawn to music along with siblings Wynton, Delfeayo and Jason. His first instrument, the clarinet, gave way to the alto and then the tenor and soprano saxophones when the teenage Branford began working in local bands... Read more.
Place our Musician of the Day widget on your website or blog. ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: Branford Marsalis
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Branford Marsalis' birthday today!
Growing up in the rich environment of New Orleans as the oldest son of pianist and educator Ellis Marsalis, Branford was drawn to music along with siblings Wynton, Delfeayo and Jason. His first instrument, the clarinet, gave way to the alto and then the tenor and soprano saxophones when the teenage Branford began working in local bands... Read more.
Place our Musician of the Day widget on your website or blog. ...
read more
Jef Neve
piano
Marcus Jefferson
guitar
Sharel Cassity
saxophone
Dave Anderson
saxophone
Steven Husted
bass, acoustic
Mateusz Smoczyński
violin
Ben Bilello
drums
Wesley Crispus
saxophone, alto
Michael J. Bernabe
piano
Philippe Vieux
saxophone, alto
Pureum Jin
saxophone, alto
heme japan
piano
Christopher Boscole
keyboards
Ilija Nikolic
pianoPhotos
Music
Uptown on Mardi Gras Day
From: Uptown on Mardi Gras DayBy Branford Marsalis
Videos
Similar
Miles Davis
trumpet
John Coltrane
saxophone
Wynton Marsalis
trumpet
Herbie Hancock
piano
Sonny Rollins
saxophone
Wayne Shorter
saxophone
Michael Brecker
saxophone, tenor
Art Blakey
drums
Chris Potter
saxophone, tenor
Cannonball Adderley
saxophone
Dexter Gordon
saxophone, tenor
Joshua Redman
saxophone
Joe Henderson
saxophone
Jackie McLean
saxophone, alto
Greg Osby
saxophone, alto
Branford Marsalis
Instrument: Saxophone
Born: August 26, 1960
Management: Music Works International
