Branford Marsalis

[JazzAt52ndStreet]

There has been a lot of talk about Wynton Marsalis here. What about his slightly less hated brother?

I have two of his records...Crazy People Music, and Royal Garden Blue. Neither of which particularly impress me, though Royal Garden Blue substantially more than CPM. Royal Garden is one of two records that first turned me on to straight ahead jazz, so I have to credit it for that.
Though I haven't heard much interms of recordings that impress me about Branford, I did see him live at Yoshi's about 6 months back.....absolutly blew me away. It was amazing. I consider him one of my favorite musicians due to that performance alone...mind blowing. Jeff "Tain" Watts was also very very impressive.

-52nd

[Lois Gilbert]

Have you checked his latest Romare Bearden Revealed. You should. Branford has always taken chances, not always to my taste, but his talent has always come shining through.

[gnhrtg]

I quite like Branford's trio/quartet albums. I also think that Calderazzo has been a fine replacement, at least as far as I can tell from "Contemporary Jazz." Here are some thoughts on specific albums that might be of some use to some.

"Trio Jeepy" is one that is more in the tradition with Watts and Milt Hinton on bass for all but one (or two) selections. There are only three originals here and the remaining seven are standards - very uncharacteristic of Branford. Great blowing all around and is good fun to listen to. There is also a short, though wondrous, bass/sax duo section in one of the tunes which you'll always want to come back to. Have you heard and not liked this one Jazz at 52nd? I'd be surprised.

"Dark Keys" is another trio date that portrays another, the more widely acknowledged, side of Branford - by which I mean Branford's playing, harmonically, and the music as a whole is, hmm, less pleasing to the ear and has more "out" inclinations than on "Trio Jeepy." If you're interested in this direction, they take it even further and mostly succeed on "Bloomington," another trio date - the last 35 mins are especially good, with the "Brilliant Corners" interjection in "Friday the 13th" never failing to put a smile on my face and say yeah. The rhythm section consists of Reginald Veal and Watts. Be forewarned though that the bass is very deep in the mix. Kenny Garrett and Joe Lovano appear on one track each and I keep returning to this one if only for those tracks. As I'd never miss the chance to say this, Garrett in particular, really burns on the 11-bar blues "Judas Iscariot." This one works very well for me except for the last track.

Though none are flat out bad, my quartet recording of choice would be "Requiem."

While we're at it, I do not have "Footsteps of Our Fathers" so someone here should tell me to pick it up.

[john williams]

I too like "Requiem".

I only own "Creation" the classical record. You get a sense of Branford's exquisite tone, particuarly on Faure's "Pie Jesu". However, I am not a big fan of Milhaud of which there's too much on this CD. Milhaud's music often seems devoid of substance and it a little twee. The Jacques Ibert piece, Concertino de Camera", is too tart for my tastes. There's some Debussy ("Little Shepherd", "Gollywog's Cakewalk" -Yikes!), Ravel (Pavane something something") and Satie (Gynopedie No. 3) too. There's nil wrong with the playing on "Creation", but the choice of works are far too sweet or bittersweet for my tastes. However, if anyone here like these pieces and Branford's playing it might be of interest.

The Milhaud pieces are-
"Le Creation du Monde"
"Sorocaba/Scaramouche/Corcovado/Sugmare"
"Laranjeiras"

If anyone's a fan I'd be happy to send this CD to them. PM me if interested.

Originally Posted by ghrtng

While we're at it, I do not have "Footsteps of Our Fathers" so someone here should tell me to pick it up.

PICK IT UP!!!

What are you waiting for? If you like Requiem, you will also love this one.

I will agree that Requiem is my favorite from Branford. JazzAt52nd, you should really check that one out. His best playing by far. Also, I would highly recommend Contemporary Jazz, Footsteps Of Ours Fathers, and The Dark Keys.

As far as Romare Beardon Revealed goes, lets just say nothing about that album has struck me just yet. It's certainly MUCH different from the albums I've listed.

[Darryl G. Thomas]

I prefer his Columbia recordings to the ones he's put out on his own label. They seem to have a patched together quality that kind of puts me off.

I can't remember the title, but the live set he recorded in in Indiana worked for me. I believe it was a trio effort with Bob Hurst on bass and Jeff Watts on drums. I loved Crazy People's Music.

I think I own everything he's put out except for the classical stuff.

I think Requiem fits your patched together description. But for very good reason.

[jazzfiend]

Gokhan, do as Dr. Dolan prescribes here. "Footsteps" is a fine recording, with Branford in great form throughout. My fave is also Requiem.

[gnhrtg]

The live recording at Indiana is titled "Bloomington," I, too like it, the last 35 mins. or so in particular.

All right, I'm getting "Footsteps" soon - see, it wasn't that difficult.

[sonic1]

I am not the biggest fan of the Marsalis bros. But Branford caught some esteem from me with "Trio Jeepy". I love straight up, peeled down trio albums. One of my all time favorite albums is Sonny Rollins "Way Out West" which was one of the first, if not THE first totally trio album.