Branford Marsalis News

Charlie Parker’s favourite composer was Igor Stravinsky and there has always been some cross-pollination between the worlds of jazz and classical music.

Some of our great jazz players have gone all the way, performing and recording classical works. Wynton Marsalis led the charge with his best-selling Haydn trumpet concerto, followed closely by his older brother Branford. Keith Jarrett has been steadily working his way through the Bach and Handel keyboard catelogues and several prominent classical pianists have at least one “jazz project” in their discographies. Read more »

Branford Marsalis Quartet
Michael Fowler Centre, March 20

Branford Marsalis means serious jazz, right?

Well, I certainly expected the gig to have a serious tone, but it was more about joyful interaction between four musicians who love playing together letting the audience in on the fun. Read more »

BRANFORD Marsalis named his most recent recording Metamorphosen to signal the continuing musical evolution of his celebrated quartet over the past decade. The band’s first line-up change came just as Metamorphosen was released in early 2009, with 18-year-old drummer Justin Faulkner replacing the legendary Jeff ”Tain” Watts. Read more »