Artist:Branford Marsalis
Song:Cheek To Cheek
Album:Contemporary Jazz
Of course sax player Branford Marsalis is part of a legendary musical family. He was born Aug. 26, 1960 in Breaux Bridge, LA. His father Ellis Marsalis is a pianist and Branford is the oldest of four jazz musician brothers. He studied music at Southern University & Berklee and then toured Europe with Art Blakey in 1980. Branford played in trumpeter brother Wynton Marsalis' band from 1982-85. He became more famous by playing with Sting in 1985. But he always returned to jazz and signed with Columbia Records in 1986. Branford also turned up in a couple of Spike Lee films and became musical director of The Tonight Show in 1992. He tired of that after two years. He then tried funk with Buckshot Lafunque but then Branford returned to jazz. Sadly his regular pianist Kenny Kirkland died in 1998. The 2000 CD Contemporary Jazz was Branford's first recording following Kirkland's death. Fortunately he found a more than able replacement in painist Joey Calderazzo along with bassist Eric Revis and the fabulous drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts. This is now his regular quartet. This is a killer band by anyone's standards. Branford left Columbia in 2002. He started his own label Marsalis Music distributed by Rounder Records. As a solo artist, he signed with A & M Records and released Braggtown in 2006. But he continues to produce other artists on his own label including Harry Connick Jr. & Joey Calderazzo. And like a lot of New Orleans musicians, Branford and his family are major participants in the post Katrina recovery. His music is recommended to all jazz fans. Here's Branford Marsalis performing A Love Supreme with Joey Calderazzo, Eric Revis & Jeff "Tain" Watts. This is from the 2004 DVD A Love Supreme Live.
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