The NEW BMQ Embarks on a Month-Long European Tour
The NEW Branford Marsalis Quartet heads to Europe for a month-long tour, performing in locations such as Paris, France, Bucharest, Romania, Baku, Azerbijan, and Athens, Greece among others. The group just happened to be performing in Istanbul on Turkey's Independence Day -- October, 29th, where they were able to experience the beautiful celebration first hand.
Branford Marsalis Quartet Tours the US
The NEW Branford Marsalis Quartet, featuring young drummer Justin Faulkner, perform a select number of shows in the United States, including performances at Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA and the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY, before heading to Europe for a month-long tour.
Marsalis Music Stage at Newport Jazz Festival
Marsalis Music hosts its own stage at the 2009 Newport Jazz Festival. Marsalis Music artist Joey Calderazzo is joined by an ensemble from NCCU where he and Branford Marsalis teach, vocalist Claudia Acuña performs, as well as the Branford Marsalis/Joey Calderazzo duo. The NCCU Big Band wraps up the Marsalis Music stage lineup. These special performances were recorded for a delayed broadcast on NPR’s JazzSet with Dee Dee Bridgewater.
Branford Marsalis Quartet celebrates 10 years as a working band, releases Metamorphosen
Following their European tour in the summer of 2008, the Branford Marsalis Quartet headed into the studio to record. The results of that visit to the studio which they set up in Durham, North Carolina’s Hayti Heritage Center, Metamorphosen, is another milestone from an ensemble that continues to set the pace regarding jazz creativity.
Branford Marsalis and the members of his quartet join the North Carolina Symphony for American Spectrum, released by Sweden's BIS Records. The album showcases Marsalis and the orchestra performing a range of American music by Michael Daugherty, John Williams, Ned Rorem and Christopher Rouse, while being conducted by Grant Llewellyn.
Branford Marsalis joins with The Philharmonia Brasileira in “Marsalis Brasilianos: A Celebration of the Music of Heitor Villa-Lobos”
Under the direction of conductor Gil Jardim, Branford Marsalis and members of the Philharmonia Brasileira toured the United States in the fall of 2008, performing works by Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos, arranged for solo saxophone and orchestra. This project commemorated the 50th Anniversary of the revered Brazilian composer’s death.
Branford Marsalis & Harry Connick, Jr. Headline NBA All-Star Weekend
Branford Marsalis along with Harry Connick Jr. and several other top New Orleans-based musicians performed at the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, Feb. 17. Sharing game-time duties, Branford served as musical director for the player introductions as well as performed the national anthem, while Connick directed and performed a halftime show devoted to the city's legendary pianists.