Branford Marsalis

Branford于1960 年出生於美国的一个音乐世家，父亲是活跃于六、七十年代的硬式咆勃乐(Hard Bop)的钢琴手Ellis Marsalis，弟弟则是近代最受争议的爵士乐手Wynton Marsalis。出道早年已经拥有一手非常成熟技巧的Branford以高音、中音、及次中音萨克斯风作平行发展。甫出道就已经先后被Art Blakey及Miles Davis所赏识，并分别效力於着名的Miles Davis之乐团。1982年，他参与其弟Wynton Marsalis乐团的演出，并成为当时爵士乐坛中最杰出的兄弟档“新咆勃爵士”（Neo-Bop）队伍。喜好尝试的Branford，更涉足流行乐坛，先后成为摇滚乐及流行乐巨星背后的明星级伴奏乐手，其中包括Sting 与Tina Turner 的专辑中，都可见Branford的踪影，此举更进一步强化Branford的时代感，他在八十年代后期即成为酸性爵士团中的“大哥大”，同时又推出几张既出色且卖座的传统爵士三重奏专辑。他舍去钢琴伴奏的传统，成功地将萨克斯风硬式咆勃语法带进一个新的纪元。
Branford Marsalis于1960 年出生于美国的一个音乐世家，父亲是活跃于六、七十年代的硬式咆勃乐(Hard Bop)的钢琴手Ellis Marsalis，弟弟则是近代最受欢迎的爵士乐手Wynton Marsalis。出道早年已经拥有一手非常成熟技巧的Branford以高音、中音、及次中音萨克斯风作平行发展。刚出道就已经先后被Art Blakey及Miles Davis所赏识，并曾效力于著名的Miles Davis乐团。1982年，他参与其弟Wynton Marsalis乐团的演出，并成为当时爵士乐坛中最杰出的兄弟档“新咆勃爵士”（Neo-Bop）队伍。喜好尝试的Branford，更涉足流行乐坛，先后成为摇滚乐及流行乐巨星背后的明星级伴奏乐手，其中包括Sting 与Tina Turner 的专辑中，都可见Branford的踪影，此举更进一步强化Branford的时代感。令人惊奇的是，Marsalis在古典领域的地位也决不含糊，他的技术让他的演奏令人叹为观止，但是他不是一个固守传统的人，他演绎的古典作品颇具现代感，又有创新意识，同时他把爵士的元素融入古典，在古典作品中加入即兴的华彩段，令人耳目一新。
by Scott Yanow
The oldest of the four musical Marsalis brothers, Branford Marsalis has had an impressive career. After studying at Southern University and Berklee, Branford toured Europe with the Art Blakey big band in the summer of 1980 (playing baritone), played three months with Clark Terry, and then spent five months playing alto with Art Blakeys Jazz Messengers (1981). He mostly played tenor and soprano while with Wynton Marsalis influential group (1982-1985), at first sounding most influenced by Wayne Shorter but leaning more toward John Coltrane at the end. The musical telepathy between the two brothers (who helped to revive the sound of the mid-60s Miles Davis Quintet) was sometimes astounding. Branford toured with Herbie Hancocks V.S.O.P. II. in 1983 and recorded with Miles Davis (1984s Decoy). In 1985, when he left Wynton to join Stings pop/rock group, it caused a major (if temporary) rift with his brother that made headlines. Marsalis enjoyed playing with Sting but did not let the association cause him to forget his musical priorities. By 1986, he was leading his own group which eventually consisted of pianist Kenny Kirkland, bassist Bob Hurst, and drummer Jeff Tain Watts; sometimes the band was a piano-less trio that really allowed Marsalis to stretch out. After a couple of film appearances (in School Daze and Throw Mama From the Train), Branford Marsalis became even more of a celebrity when he joined Jay Lenos Tonight Show as the musical director in 1992. However, being cast in the role of Lenos sidekick rubbed against Marsalis temperament and after two years he had had enough. Branford Marsalis, who attempted to mix together hip-hop and jazz in his erratic Buckshot LeFonque project, has recorded steadily for Columbia ever since 1983 (including a classical set). In 2002, having left Columbia, Marsalis formed his own label Marsalis Music. Intended as a true independent label focused on supporting the developement of musicians, Marsalis Music has released albums by such diverse artists as guitarist/vocalist Doug Wamble, pianist/vocalist Harry Connick, Jr., saxophonist Miguel Zenon and others. Marslis himself has also kept busy releasing a handful of albums on the label including Footsteps Of Our Fathers which featured his take on the classic John Coltrane composition A Love Supreme in 2002, Romare Bearden Revealed in 2003, Eternal in 2004 and Braggtown in 2006.