BRANFORD MARSALIS PLAYS JOHN WILLIAMS

Emerging from the global pandemic in January 2022 Mr. Marsalis first returned to the New York Philharmonic to perform John Adam’s Saxophone Concerto, which highlighted his incredible agility and the instrument’s lyrical voice. Mr. Marsalis then launched a tour with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, in a program which explored the intersectionality of jazz and classical music with repertoire selections including Debussy’s jazz-inspired Rhapsody for alto saxophone and chamber orchestra. Later that year, he performed John Williams’ Escapades in Tanglewood’s celebration of Williams’ 90th birthday. He recently composed a classical suite commissioned by the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, which premiered in March 2024.

Even as he tours the world as a featured classical soloist, Mr. Marsalis continues to perform with The Branford Marsalis Quartet, which he formed in 1986. The Quartet makes its Blue Note Records debut with the March 28 release of a new album, Belonging, an interpretation of Keith Jarrett’s 1974 album of the same name. His work on Broadway has garnered a Drama Desk Award and a Tony nomination for the acclaimed revival of Fences. He recently arranged and orchestrated the music for a new Broadway production, A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical. His previous Broadway efforts include music for the revivals of Children of a Lesser God and A Raisin in the Sun, as well as The Mountaintop, which starred Angela Bassett and Samuel L. Jackson. As a composer for film and television, his screen credits include original music composed for Rustin starring Colman Domingo, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks starring Oprah Winfrey, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom starring Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman, and the EMMY nominated Tulsa Burning: The 1921 Race Massacre.