Branford Marsalis Accomplishments

Branford Marsalis is a well-known American modern jazz saxophonist. His expertise in music can be seen in the many different projects he has carried on throughout the years and has influenced many up and coming jazz artists with his skill and discipline. While still, a relatively young artist Marsalis has made a lasting impression on Jazz music.

Marsalis was born in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana in 1960. The oldest son of Ellis Marsalis, a New Orleans jazz pianist he was introduced to music at a young age, starting with the clarinet and later moving to the soprano saxophone, as well as the alto saxophone, and tenor saxophone. He always said as a young musician that Jazz was not for him but experiments with music and some persuasion from his father led to a

Marsalis has won three Grammy Awards, produced 28 albums, has performed with artists like Miles Davis, B.B. King, and in a Rolling Stones Magazine article he talked about his “ Unlikely Collaboration With the Grateful Dead”. From 1992- 1995 he was the musical director for Jay Leno’s Tonight Show this gained him a lot of new fans and popularity. Branford has performed with many groups in his time including Art Blakey's Big Band, his own quartet the Branford Marsalis Quartet, and toured with Herbie Hancock's V.S.O.P. II. Branford started his career with Columbia records but in 2002 he left to create his own music label called Marsalis Music which has produced with musicians like Harry Connick Jr., a successful and versatile artist who has produced many albums in jazz, blues, funk, and others. Also, Marsalis’ record label has recorded with Miguel Zenón, a Puerto Rican Alto Saxophonist. The achievements that Branford has made have earned him the title “Master of Jazz” by the National Endowment for the Arts, a government program that “offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic