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Branford Marsalis artist page: interviews, features and/or performances archived at NPR Music
Once upon a time, an NPR Music series called JazzSet With Branford Marsalis visited clubs, concerts and festivals across the country and around the world. Today, our founding host runs his own record label, and JazzSet visits the Marsalis Music Stage at Newport, where Chilean-born Claudia Acuna sets political folk songs to the sounds of jazz.
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The combination of only piano and saxophone isn't often seen on jazz stages. But the pairing of a contemporary jazz figurehead and his group's pianist of over 10 years promises artful communication. The two perform live in concert.
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Saxophonist Branford Marsalis has jazz in his genes. His father is pianist Ellis Marsalis, and all three of his brothers — trumpeter Wynton among them — are jazz musicians. On Fresh Air, he recalls growing up surrounded by music.
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Musicians Harry Connick Jr. and Branford Marsalis, two New Orleans natives, have been friends for years — back to the days when Connick took piano lessons from Marsalis's father, Ellis.
()On his latest album, Occasion, singer, pianist and actor Harry Connick Jr. teams up with jazz saxophonist Branford Marsalis. Connick and Marsalis join guest host Frank Stasio to discuss the collaboration and play some songs from the album, which was released on Marsalis' label, Marsalis Music.
()Branford Marsalis releases a new album dedicated to the beauty of the ballad. It's called Eternal. NPR's Tavis Smiley talks with the sax man about that new work and about his brand new record label, Marsalis Music.
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Branford Marsalis was born into one of the great jazz families: his father is pianist Ellis and his brother is trumpet player Wynton Marsalis. He has a new album, Eternal, on Rounder Records. (This interview first aired Oct. 21, 2002.)
()Saxophonist Branford Marsalis. He's just released "Footsteps of Our Fathers," the debut release on the artist's own Marsalis Music label. In the nearly two decades that he has released solo albums, he's won two Grammy Awards and was nominated for a third in 1995. He was the first band leader for Jay Leno's "The Tonight Show" and appeared on the show from 1992-1995. In addition to the solo and ensemble records he's released, Marsalis has participated in various film scores as both composer and featured soloist. He is currently on tour for this album.
()Saxophonist Branford Marsalis has performed pop music with Sting, hip-hop with Buckshot LeFonque, and jazz with a host of giants like Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock and Art Blakey. His new CD offers another challenge. Marsalis teams with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra on Creation - a collection of the works of various French composers. Liane speaks with Marsalis about his newfound confidence with classical performance and some of the lessons he learned along the way. (17:49) Creation is on Sony Classical
()Jazz music icons Harry Connick, Jr. and Branford Marsalis share a hometown of New Orleans, an enduring friendship — and now, a new album of musical collaborations. Payal Kumar of member station KKJZ in Long Beach, Calif., reviews their new CD Occasion.
()Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews Contemporary Jazz, a new CD from saxophonist Branford Marsalis (Columbia Records).
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Even with his contributions to the instrument, not even Coleman Hawkins could have predicted how the tenor saxophone would become so centrally identifiable with jazz. Five of today's leading tenor players have new releases in 2009, each with his own take on the shape of jazz to come.
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