Branford Marsalis

The Profile

American saxophonist from the Marsalis family, associated with New Orleans. Active since the 1980s, he worked with Art Blakey, appeared on Miles Davis’s Decoy, and collaborated extensively with Sting. Leader of the Branford Marsalis Quartet and acclaimed recording artist across jazz and crossover projects.

Born in 1960; New Orleans–associated American saxophonist. Early career with Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers; recorded with Miles Davis (Decoy); long-running collaboration with Sting. Noted for post-bop fluency and stylistic range.

A single, highly positive review crowns Random Abstract as a cornerstone in Branford Marsalis’s catalog. It traces his path through Art Blakey, Miles Davis, and Sting, praising his versatile, post-bop-informed voice. The piece spotlights the quartet with Kenny Kirkland, Delbert Felix, and Lewis Nash. A centerpiece is the expansive, emotive take on Ornette Coleman’s Lonely Woman.