In 1994, Marsalis appeared on the Red Hot Organization's compilation CD, Stolen Moments: Red Hot + Cool.

That year, they released their first album, Buckshot LeFonque, which was mostly produced by DJ Premier. In 1994, Marsalis formed the group Buckshot LeFonque (named after a pseudonym once used by Cannonball Adderley), a jazz group with elements of rock and hip-hop. He brought with him the three other members of the Branford Marsalis Quartet, who became the Tonight Show Band's pianist, drummer and bass player, respectively. Initially, Marsalis turned down the offer, but later reconsidered and accepted the position. In 1992, Marsalis became the leader of the Tonight Show Band on the newly launched The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, after Jay Leno replaced Johnny Carson. In 1989, Marsalis played a 30-second cover of ' Lift Every Voice and Sing' over the opening logos of Lee's film Do the Right Thing.īetween 19, Branford played with the Grateful Dead numerous times, and appeared on their 1990 live album Without a Net. His witty comments have pegged him to many memorable one-liners in the film. In 1988, Marsalis co-starred in the Spike Lee film School Daze, also rendering several horn-blowing interludes for the music in the film. That lineup of the quartet would go on to release four more albums, the last of which, I Heard You Twice the First Time (1992), won the Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Jazz Album, Individual or Group.

That year, they released their first album, Royal Garden Blues. In 1986, Marsalis formed the Branford Marsalis Quartet with pianist Kirkland, drummer Jeff 'Tain' Watts and bass player Robert Hurst. He became a regular in Sting's line-up both in the studio and live up until the release of Brand New Day in 1999. In 1985, he joined Sting, singer and bassist of rock band the Police, on his first solo project, The Dream of the Blue Turtles, alongside jazz and session musicians Omar Hakim on drums, Darryl Jones on the bass and Kenny Kirkland on keyboards. He continued to work with Wynton until 1985, a period that also saw the release of his own first recording, Scenes in the City, as well as guest appearances with other artists including Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie.īranford Marsalis at Monterey Jazz Festival 1992 Other performances with his brother, including a 1981 Japanese tour with Herbie Hancock, led to the formation of his brother Wynton's first quintet, where Marsalis shifted his emphasis to soprano and tenor saxophones. Other big band experiences with Lionel Hampton and Clark Terry followed over the next year, and by the end of 1981 Marsalis, on alto saxophone, had joined his brother Wynton in Blakey's Jazz Messengers. In mid-1980, while still a Berklee College of Music student, Marsalis toured Europe playing alto and baritone saxophone in a large ensemble led by drummer Art Blakey. JSTOR ( March 2022) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message).Contentious material about living people that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately.įind sources: 'Branford Marsalis' – news This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources.

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