Jazz Articles about Branford Marsalis

Branford Marsalis: Eternal

by Mark F. Turner
September 9, 2004

It takes skill to perform a jazz ballad effectively. It's one thing to burn notes with rapid-fire precision, yet another to explore the intricacies of slower ones. Not only is the music a factor, but the dynamics of mood, style, and emotion also come into play. There have been many jazz ballad recordings and now one of today's foremost saxophonists, Branford Marsalis, gives his spin with Eternal. Consisting of seven compositions with unique contributions from each member ...

Branford Marsalis: The Steep Anthology

by Jim Santella
March 19, 2004

A fierce fighter as well as a gentle balladeer, Branford Marsalis makes every note count. He gets the meaning across naturally without unneeded repetition and without unnecessary embellishment. A true entertainer and a gifted artist, he communicates with his audience easily. Thus, Columbia had ample worthwhile examples to choose from for this anthology.

With his father at the piano, the saxophonist interprets “Maria” with passion and understanding. His control of the soprano instrument ranks right up there. Whether ...

Branford Marsalis: Romare Bearden Revealed

by Jim Santella
January 12, 2004

American artist Romare Howard Bearden (1911-1988) based his paintings on memories and experiences of the rural South, the urban North, and other familiar landscapes. An exhibition of his works at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, will be travelling to San Francisco, Dallas and several other key locations through April of 2005. Several of Bearden’s paintings may be found on the Internet at various locations, including the Bearden Foundation .

Branford Marsalis has created an album ...

Branford Marsalis Quartet: Romare Bearden: Revealed

by Mark F. Turner
November 12, 2003

The Branford Marsalis Quartet's latest release pays homage to one of America's least known but most inventive artists: Romare Bearden. The artist's central medium was collage which fused paint, clippings, paper and other materials into powerful visual works that are now on display across the country in venues such as the Smithsonian, colleges, and prestigious galleries. Born in North Carolina, Bearden moved to Harlem in 1914 where his love for jazz combined with the fertile atmosphere of artists and musicians ...

Branford Marsalis Quartet: Romare Bearden Revealed

by Nic Jones
October 8, 2003

Romare Bearden is a painter, and several of his works are featured in the CD booklet. The works reveal enough of the artist's concerns in themselves, and the music isn't a necessary complement to the works, nor yet is there anything unique about it that might readily associate it with Bearden's art.

As far as the art goes, it works as a kind of visual equivalent to Albert Murray's book Stompin' The Blues, a tome that has ...

Branford Marsalis Quartet: Footsteps of Our Fathers

by Mark F. Turner
September 9, 2002

A slightly different perspective on Branford's new stellar work.

No introduction is needed for one of the strongest saxophonists of our time. Branford Marsalis has started his own recording company entitled Marsalis Music with the release of Footsteps of Our Fathers, with compositions selected by jazz greats Ornette Coleman, Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane, and John Lewis of the Modern Jazz Quartet.

The music effectively honors and celebrates some of Jazz’s true patriarchs.

Jazz music has always articulated a message throughout ...

The Branford Marsalis Quartet: Footsteps of Our Fathers

by Dan McClenaghan
August 7, 2002

Footsteps of Our Fathers is the first great Branford Marsalis album since 96's The Dark Keys. Credit the label change; Mr. Marsalis has started his own record company, Marsalis Music. The results are stunning. His last few efforts on the major label were a bit thin. Sounded great on initial listenings, but they seemed somehow diluted, washed out. Fodder--ultimately, sadly--for the used CD bin. Perhaps it's the freedom afforded by owning the record company, and finally having the wherewithal to ...