Publication: Dayton Daily News
Author: Adam Alonzo
Date: September 20, 2012
Saxophonist Branford Marsalis is unconcerned that jazz musicians lack the popularity of mainstream artists.
“I chose to play this music, and I accept all the things that come with that, good, bad and indifferent,” he has said.
For those who envy the success of other musicians, Marsalis offers this advice: “Just shut up and play.”
Marsalis’ career is hardly lacking in success, however. He’s collected three Grammy awards, was nominated for a Tony, and last year was named a Jazz Masters fellow by the National Endowment for the Arts, as were his father and three younger brothers.
Marsalis will appear at the Schuster Center in downtown Dayton on Sunday as part of a tour promoting a new release by his quartet. The record features pianist Joey Calderazzo, bassist Eric Revis and drummer Justin Faulkner.
Marsalis offered high praise for the members of his band.
“When you hire people who you feel are talented, 95 percent of the time, they’re gonna play the right thing,” he said. “They know, and they’ve listened to enough music to know what’s gonna make the song work, and you just wait a second, and they’ll hook it up. They always do.”
