The legendary American saxophonist, composer, and bandleader Branford Marsalis is quite rightly regarded as one of the most important figures in contemporary jazz. His musical rise began as a band member of drummer Art Blakey's world-famous “Jazz Messengers” in the early 1980s. He became known far beyond the world of jazz through his collaboration with Sting, whose albums “Dream of the Blue Turtles” and “Bring on the Night” represent one of the most convincing combinations of pop and jazz thanks to Marsalis' powerful and tender solos. Marsalis has also played with countless jazz greats, with classical orchestras, and with rock artists such as The Grateful Dead. In addition to numerous jazz albums, he is also successful with his crossover band Buckshot LeFonque and two classical recordings, demonstrating great stylistic versatility. He has contributed his saxophone playing to several film scores, and in a particularly fruitful way as a composer for the films of the Afro-American director Spike Lee, such as “School Daze” (1988), “Do the Right Thing” (1988), “Mo' Better Blues” (1990), and “When the Levees Broke” (2006). Together with Harry Connick Jr. and Habitat for Humanity, Marsalis founded the Musicians' Village project in New Orleans at the end of 2005 to resettle musicians who had been displaced by Hurricane Katrina in an artists' colony.
Marsalis’ own quartet, which has existed since 1986, is regarded as an exceptional model for uncompromising and exemplary ensemble work in jazz. The classical formation of saxophone, piano, bass, and drums remains a never-ending source of inspiration and expression for him. Through their many years of playing together, the musicians communicate almost telepathically and discover a wealth of new expressive horizons in well-known standards. At the same time, Grammy winner Marsalis is constantly searching for new sounds and is not afraid to re-record iconographic pieces such as John Coltrane's “A Love Supreme” or to record a live solo saxophone concert in a church, such as “In my Solitude. Live at Grace Cathedral.”
Tickets are 46.30-106.90; discounts for holders of the Bider & Tanner card.

Website
offbeat-concert.ch/series-2024/the-branford-marsalis-quartet

Where
Stadtcasino Basel
Konzertgasse 1
4051 Basel

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