Marsalis, Branford

Marsalis, Branford, tenor, alto, and soprano saxophonist; b. Breaux Bridge, La., Aug. 26, 1960. The oldest child of Ellis Marsalis , he attended Berklee. Branford and his brother, Wynton Marsalis , and Danny House played in Europe with Clark Terry’s youth band in 1980. Branford replaced Bobby Watson on alto in Blakey’s Jazz Messengers in 1981. He switched to tenor and soprano, then joined his brother’s band in 1982, staying until 1985. The group toured extensively nationally and internationally and won critical applause, while selling vast numbers of records for jazz releases. But an alleged dispute over stylistic direction and Branford’s decision to join rocker Sting’s tour purportedly led to the brothers’ split in 1985–86. He toured and recorded with Sting and is seen in the Sting documentary Bring on the Night. Since then he has led his own bands, both in jazz and as Buckshot LeFonque, a fusion of hip hop and hard funk. He was the leader of the new “Tonight Show” band, but quit (at first announced as a leave) when the job turned out to be uncomfortable for him. He accidentally dedicated a number to the “late” Buddy Tate, leading him to perform and record with Tate as an apology. Marsalis is the host of the NPR series Jazzset. He has an endearing modesty and humor in interviews and host roles.

Discography

Scenes in the City (1983); Renaissance (1986); Romances for Saxophone (1986); Royal Garden Blues (1986); Random Abstract (1987); Steep (1988); Trio Jeepy (1988); Crazy People Music (1990); Beautiful Ones Are Not Yet Born (1991); Bloomington (1991); I Heard You Twice the First Time (1992). A. Kidjo: Oremi (1998).

—Lewis Porter