Branford Marsalis

Branford于1960 年出生於美國的一個音樂世家，父親是活躍于六、七十年代的硬式咆勃樂(Hard Bop)的鋼琴手Ellis Marsalis，弟弟則是近代最受爭議的爵士樂手Wynton Marsalis。出道早年已經(jīng)擁有一手非常成熟技巧的Branford以高音、中音、及次中音薩克斯風(fēng)作平行發(fā)展。甫出道就已經(jīng)先后被Art Blakey及Miles Davis所賞識，并分別效力於著名的Miles Davis之樂團(tuán)。1982年，他參與其弟Wynton Marsalis樂團(tuán)的演出，并成為當(dāng)時爵士樂壇中最杰出的兄弟檔“新咆勃爵士”（Neo-Bop）隊伍。喜好嘗試的Branford，更涉足流行樂壇，先后成為搖滾樂及流行樂巨星背后的明星級伴奏樂手，其中包括Sting 與Tina Turner 的專輯中，都可見Branford的蹤影，此舉更進(jìn)一步強化Branford的時代感，他在八十年代后期即成為酸性爵士團(tuán)中的“大哥大”，同時又推出幾張既出色且賣座的傳統(tǒng)爵士三重奏專輯。他舍去鋼琴伴奏的傳統(tǒng)，成功地將薩克斯風(fēng)硬式咆勃語法帶進(jìn)一個新的紀(jì)元。
Branford Marsalis于1960 年出生于美國的一個音樂世家，父親是活躍于六、七十年代的硬式咆勃樂(Hard Bop)的鋼琴手Ellis Marsalis，弟弟則是近代最受歡迎的爵士樂手Wynton Marsalis。出道早年已經(jīng)擁有一手非常成熟技巧的Branford以高音、中音、及次中音薩克斯風(fēng)作平行發(fā)展。剛出道就已經(jīng)先后被Art Blakey及Miles Davis所賞識，并曾效力于著名的Miles Davis樂團(tuán)。1982年，他參與其弟Wynton Marsalis樂團(tuán)的演出，并成為當(dāng)時爵士樂壇中最杰出的兄弟檔“新咆勃爵士”（Neo-Bop）隊伍。喜好嘗試的Branford，更涉足流行樂壇，先后成為搖滾樂及流行樂巨星背后的明星級伴奏樂手，其中包括Sting 與Tina Turner 的專輯中，都可見Branford的蹤影，此舉更進(jìn)一步強化Branford的時代感。令人驚奇的是，Marsalis在古典領(lǐng)域的地位也決不含糊，他的技術(shù)讓他的演奏令人嘆為觀止，但是他不是一個固守傳統(tǒng)的人，他演繹的古典作品頗具現(xiàn)代感，又有創(chuàng)新意識，同時他把爵士的元素融入古典，在古典作品中加入即興的華彩段，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.