The Branford Marsalis Quartet plays in Carmel
The Branford Marsalis Quartet, appearing Wednesday at the Sunset Center in Carmel, has a stellar reputation as a solid, boundary-pushing jazz ensemble, owing to the longevity that past and current members demonstrated in the saxophonist's quartet since the mid-80s. For anyone who has a history of listening to jazz music or even those who don't, the name Marsalis certainly should ring a bell. The family has been given jazz royalty status in its adopted hometown of New Orleans, the birthplace of jazz.
“Staying together allows us to play adventurous, sophisticated music and sound good,” he said in 2019 ahead of the release of his most recent quartet recording, “The Secret Between the Shadow and the Soul.”
“Lack of familiarity leads to defensive playing, playing not to make a mistake. I like playing sophisticated music, and I couldn't create this music with people I don't know.”
As the eldest of four jazz musician sons who followed suit with their father, the legendary jazz pianist and music educator, the late Ellis Marsalis, Branford has always had a mind of his own when it came to the direction he took his music career. Steeped in the language of jazz, the art of classical, and the fun of rock and roll music, to name a few genres he lends his talents to and as a composer/ arranger for film and theater, Branford has embraced a universalist approach to music. The 2020 recording of his work as the composer of the soundtrack for the Netflix movie “Ma Rainey's Black Bottom” is his most recent release.
You may remember the several years he spent at the helm of the Tonight Show Band during Jay Leno's time as host. Or when he led his Buckshot LeFunque group, fusing mainstream jazz with hip-hop rhythms, rap, R&B, rock, reggae and half a dozen other idioms. His collaborations are too numerous to list exhaustively, but he spent time performing and recording with Sting and the Grateful Dead, as well, eventually starting his own record label and devoting a portion of his career to music education.
I've had the pleasure to have followed his jazz career mostly, making sure I showed up at his sets at whatever venue or festival he appeared at within my coverage area. I was introduced to the amazing jazz drummer, Jeff “Tain” Watts in his earlier version of his quartet, followed by Justin Falulkner who is the current drummer. And the pianist Kenny Kirkland, who sadly passed on while a member of the Marsalis band.
But then Joey Calderazzo claimed the pianist's chair and he's been an exciting addition to the mix since then. And the very loyal bassist
Eric Revis, who followed Robert Hurst in that spot. While Branford for a time was a member of Wynton's group, I've always felt an affinity to Branford's style, which is much more progressive than that of Wynton, who does an amazing job of carrying on the jazz tradition.
The trumpet-playing Wynton may have a higher profile in the music world due not only to his performance skills, but to his outspoken personality and his leading role in the making of the Ken Burns PBS documentary JAZZ, among many other highprofile positions to include a long-standing position as artistic director at New York's Jazz at Lincoln Center. The two other brothers, Jason and Delfeayo, have great jazz credentials as well, but both cannot top the lofty positions the two elder sons have reached.
After four decades in the international spotlight, the achievements of saxophonist Branford Marsalis continue to grow. From his initial recognition as a young jazz lion, he has gone on to become a multi-award-winning artist with three Grammys and a citation from the National Endowment for the Arts as a Jazz Master, among other notable awards recognition. The concert starts at 8 p.m. and tickets come in three levels, $89, $75 and $65, available online at www. sunset center.org, or at the Box Office by telephone at 831-620-2048. Don't wait too long, this show could be a sell-out.
Also, on the same Wednesday evening as the above concert, the California rock/jam band ALO (Animal Liberation Orchestra) appears at Folktale Winery & Vineyards, produced in collaboration with KRML Radio. If you don't already have your tickets, I'm sorry to report they have already sold-out the concert. While I mostly try to get you pumped up to go to a show locally where tickets are still available, perhaps there's another one of the venues on the West Coast where the band is touring as part of its annual Tour D'Amour, this year being the 16th, where there are tickets still to be had. Looks like about all of them in this short tour in support of the new album release “Silver Saturdays.” Two relatively close stops are at the Soho Restaurant and Music Club in Santa Barbara March 16, and at The Fillmore in San Francisco March 25. Admittedly, our show in Carmel Valley is a more intimate space than these others. More info on the band and the tour can be found at www.alomusic.com.
In anticipation of the Friday, March 17 St. Patrick's Day holiday, this Sunday at St. Mary's Bythe-Sea in Pacific Grove there will be a “Party for Paddy,” featuring music by The Weeds, a father/song duo with John and Tyler Weed and Stuart Mason, plus Irish dancer Marisa Gilman.
John Weed is the fiddler for Molly's Revenge and New World String Project, and is a classically trained violinist who has spent the past 25 years immersed in various fiddle styles. In addition to being a full-time performer and instructor, Weed is currently on faculty at Palenke Arts, a multicultural arts organization in Seaside. Tyler Weed was raised in a musical family, hearing his mother and father playing fiddle since birth. Weed has been taught guitar and banjo licks from “Uncle” Stuart Mason since his first days strumming a guitar. He's racked up scholarships and awards in his young life, to include two scholarships to the Big Sur Fiddle Camp. Stuart Mason is known for his authentic vocals and nimble skills on guitar, mandola, and banjo. He is a member of the Celtic band Molly's Revenge, and also tours with old time quartet SLO County Stumblers, Nordic quartet New World String Project, and in a duo with fiddler John Weed.
The party starts at 3 p.m., presented by the Celtic Society, complete with Celtic tunes, American song and Irish dancing. There will be plenty of fast jigs and reels to get you in the mood for the season of green. St. Mary's bistro will be up and running with seasonal treats, tatties with toppings, and Guinness beer. Tickets are $30 in advance at www.celticsociety.org or $35 at the door. Kids price is $12 advance, $15 door. St. Mary's is located at 146 12th St., Pacific Grove. Doors open at 2:30 p.m. and you'll be welcomed by an Irish session by St. Mary's weekly jam group The Celtoids. Call or text 831-224-3819 for more info.
New Canon Theatre
Co.'s 2023 Season Launch Party is Saturday, 7:30 — 9:30 p.m. at The SandBox in Sand City, featuring music by Orchid Saloon (Glenn Bell & Chelsea Riddle of The BASSment). There will be auction items from hotel accommodations to local artist prints, raffles, lite bites, wine and beer tastings by Hahn Family Wines and Other Brother Beer Co. and the chance to hear from the New Canon Team on what's next, the vision for the future and how you can help.
New Canon Theatre Co. is celebrating and preparing for its second season with four productions; Shakespeare's classic comedy “Much Ado About Nothing,” then a World Premier of a new play, “Finding Chase,” by C. Wright, an adaptation of Shakespeare's “Hamlet” by Artistic Director Justin Gordon, and “Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill,” examining Billie Holiday's last performance before her death.
Tickets in advance are $25, and at the door for $30. Buy in advance at www.newcanontheatre.org/season.