Branford Marsalis
Branford Marsalis (born August 26, 1960) 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. From 1992 to 1995 he led the Tonight Show Band.
Branford Marsalis
Early life[edit]
Marsalis was born on August 26, 1960 in New Orleans.[1] He is the son of Dolores (née Ferdinand), a jazz singer and substitute teacher, and Ellis Louis Marsalis, Jr., a pianist and music professor.[2][3] His brothers Jason Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, and Delfeayo Marsalis are also jazz musicians.
Personal life[edit]
Marsalis lives in Durham, North Carolina with his wife Nicole and their two daughters. He was raised Catholic.[11]
Marsalis plays golf.[4]
In September 2006, Branford Marsalis was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music from . During his acceptance ceremony, he was honored with a tribute performance featuring music throughout his career.[12]
Berklee College of Music
Marsalis won the 2010 in the category "Outstanding Music in a Play" and was also nominated for a 2010 Tony Award in the category of "Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre" for his participation in the Broadway revival of August Wilson's Fences.
Drama Desk Award
Marsalis, with his father and brothers, were group recipients of the 2011 .[13]
NEA Jazz Masters Award
In May 2012, he received an honorary Doctor of Music degree from the .[14]
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
In June 2012, Marsalis, along with friend and fellow New Orleans native , received the S. Roger Horchow Award for Greatest Public Service by a Private Citizen, an award given out annually by the Jefferson Awards for Public Service, for their work in the Musicians' Village of New Orleans.[15]
Harry Connick, Jr.
On March 26, 2013, he received the degree of Doctor of Arts Leadership, honoris causa from .
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
Tenor: Selmer Super Balanced Action with a Fred Lebayle 8 mouthpiece and Alexander Superial size 3.5 reeds
[18]
Marsalis performed alongside and Phil Collins at the London Live Aid concert at Wembley Stadium on July 13, 1985.
Sting
Marsalis assembled a band he called to open for the Grateful Dead at the Oakland Coliseum Arena on December 31, 1990. Other members were Kevin Eubanks, Robert Hurst, and Jeff Watts.
X-Men
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.
Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
Interviewed on Episode 10: "Gum, Disease" (aired November 11, 1994). 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.
Space Ghost Coast to Coast
Marsalis was featured in 's 1992 hit "I Love Your Smile". In the second half of the song, he has a solo and Shanice says, "Blow, Branford, Blow"
Shanice
He played the role of Lester in the movie (1987) and the role of Jordam in Spike Lee's 1988 musical-drama film School Daze.
Throw Momma from the Train
Cameo as a repair man who asks Hillary on a date in the episode "Stop Will! In the Name of Love", and as himself in the episode "Sleepless in Bel-Air" on the sitcom (1994).
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Interviews with Marsalis are featured prominently in the documentary (2006).
Before the Music Dies
Marsalis was a guest judge on the final episode of which took place in New Orleans, Louisiana.
the fifth season of Top Chef
On April 28 and 29, 2009, Marsalis played with (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 set at Nassau Coliseum on March 29, 1990,[20] during which, according to Dead aficionados, one of the greatest renditions of "Eyes of the World", was performed.
the Dead
On July 21, 2010, Marsalis guested with on the songs "Lover Lay Down," "What Would You Say" and "Jimi Thing" at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Charlotte, NC. This was the first time Marsalis had guested with Dave Matthews Band, although he had previously played with Dave Matthews and Gov't Mule on a cover of Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower" on December 16, 2006, in Asheville, NC.[21] Marsalis performed with the Dave Matthews Band again on December 12, 2012, at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC. For the Summer 2015 tour Marsalis has returned to guest for 3 shows, May 22, 2015, in Raleigh North Carolina ("Lover Lay Down", "Typical Situation", Jimi thing), June 12, 2015 in Hartford, CT ("Death On The High Seas", "Spaceman", "Jimi Thing", "Warehouse"), and July 29, 2015, in Tampa, FL ("Lover Lay Down", "Typical Situation", "Jimi Thing").[22]
Dave Matthews Band
Marsalis appeared as a special guest of Bob Weir and Bruce Hornsby at two festivals in the summer of 2012. They first performed at the All Good Music Festival in Thornville, OH on July 19, 2012, and then headed to Bridgeport, CT for a performance at Gathering of the Vibes the following day, July 20, 2012.
Marsalis appeared as a special guest of for their performance at Red Rocks on September 21, 2013.
Furthur
Marsalis appeared as a special guest of for their second night of a two night headlining performance at Lock'n Festival on August 26, 2018.[23]
Dead & Company
Fathers & Sons with Wynton Marsalis, Ellis Marsalis, Chico Freeman, Von Freeman (Columbia, 1982)
Scenes in the City (Columbia, 1984)
Romances for Saxophone (CBS Masterworks, 1986)
(CBS, 1986)
Royal Garden Blues
(Columbia, 1987)
Renaissance
(CBS/Sony, 1988)
Random Abstract
(CBS, 1989)
Trio Jeepy
(Columbia, 1990)
Mo' Better Blues
(Sony, 1991)
The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born
Herve Sellin Sextet/Brandford Marsalis (Columbia, 1991)
(Columbia, 1992)
Sneakers
(Columbia, 1992)
I Heard You Twice the First Time
David and Goliath (Rabbit Ears, 1992)
(Columbia, 1993)
Bloomington
with Ellis Marsalis (Columbia, 1996)
Loved Ones
(Sony Music, 1996)
The Dark Keys
Buckshot LeFonque, (Sony, 1997)
Music Evolution
(Sony, 1999)
Requiem
(Sony, 2000)
Contemporary Jazz
with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Sony Classical, 2001)
Creation
(Marsalis Music, 2003)
Romare Bearden Revealed
(Marsalis Music, 2004)
Eternal
(Marsalis Music, 2006)
Braggtown
American Spectrum (BIS, 2009)
Songs of Mirth and Melancholy with Joey Calderazzo (Marsalis Music, 2011)
Four MFs Playin' Tunes (Marsalis Music, 2012)
In My Solitude: Live at Grace Cathedral (Marsalis Music, 2014)
(Marsalis Music, 2019)
The Secret Between the Shadow and the Soul
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (Milan, 2020)
(1987)
Throw Momma From the Train
(1988)
School Daze
Season 2 (1994–95)
Living Single
(1996; composer)
Mr. and Mrs. Loving
(Harry) (1997)
Eve's Bayou
Branford Marsalis - The Sound Illusionist (2016)
Marsalis Jams
– official site
Branford Marsalis
at Marsalis Music