Chan Centre to Welcome Branford Marsalis for Vancouver Premiere

The Chan Centre for the Performing Arts at the University of British Columbia (UBC) presents the Vancouver debut of jazz icon and celebrated saxophonist, Branford Marsalis, February 13 at 8pm in the Chan Shun Concert Hall. Performing with his critically lauded quartet, the NEA Jazz master and three-time GRAMMY Award-winner delivers an evening of groundbreaking original works, and brilliant renditions of timeless jazz standards.

"It's a tremendous honour to welcome Branford Marsalis, one of the greatest saxophonists, composers, and bandleaders in jazz, to our stage for the first time," says Joyce Hinton, Co-Managing Director of the Chan Centre. "Following the sold-out concert by Wynton Marsalis two years ago, we are truly thrilled to host another legendary member of the illustrious New Orleans jazz clan."

As part of the "first family of jazz", Branford's talent was fostered during his highly musical upbringing as the eldest of five sons to jazz great, pianist, and educator Ellis Marsalis. At the college level, while a member of the Jazz Messengers, he honed his skill with the late jazz trumpeter Clark Terry and master drummer Art Blakey. During the early 1980's, Branford became a household name, accompanying his brother in The Wynton Marsalis Quintet.

The Branford Marsalis Quartet was formed in 1986 and quickly raised the bar for other ensembles of its kind. The New York Times praised the group's most recent album release, Four MF's Playin' Tunes (2012), as "a knockout: hard-nosed and hyperacute, tradition-minded but modern." For this Chan Centre appearance, Branford is joined by his stellar, musically adventurous quartet featuring Joey Calderazzo on piano, Eric Revis on bass, and Justin Faulkner on drums.

The quartet is only one of many outlets through which Branford Marsalis shares his musical genius. This versatile musician often performs classical repertoire with the Chicago, Toronto, Detroit, and North Carolina Symphony Orchestras, as well as the New York Philharmonic. He has also collaborated with varied jazz titans (Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Hancock, and Sonny Rollins) and shared the stage with leading pop and rock stars, such as Sting and The Grateful Dead. In addition, Branford launched the Marsalis Music label in 2002.

Widely known as the former Musical Director for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and host of NPR's Jazz Set, Marsalis remains a voracious and prolific artist. As a mentor to upcoming musicians, Branford has worked with students of Michigan State, San Francisco State and North Carolina Central Universities, among others.

Forever faithful to his New Orleans roots, Branford gives back to his hometown through The Musicians Village. This community, conceived in partnership with fellow artist Harry Connick Jr. and Habitat for Humanity, provides affordable housing to musicians and their families in the Upper Ninth Ward, one of the areas hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Chan Centre Connects Events (chancentre.com/connects)
A series of ancillary events programmed in conjunction with Chan Centre Presents performances, exploring the role of arts and artists in society.

Film Screening: Brooklyn Boheme - Feb 4 / 7pm @ The Cinematheque. This 2012 documentary film celebrates the vibrant African American artistic community that resided in Fort Greene and Clinton Hill Brooklyn during the 1980s and '90s. ?

A Conversation with Branford Marsalis - Feb 13 / 11am @ UBC Robson Square. Branford Marsalis talks about his musical upbringing and fascinating career path. Moderated by UBC School of Music's Richard Kurth, this event is open to the public and free of charge.

About The Chan Centre for Performing Arts at UBC (chancentre.com).

To post a comment, you must register and login.