Meet the Artist: Branford Marsalis

From June 4-14, we are going virtual and bringing the music directly to you with the Burlington ReDiscover Jazz Festival—11 days of jazz in partnership with Vermont PBS, VPR, and Burlington area restaurants. Enjoy this Meet the Artist talk from the 2013 archives with Bob Blumenthal and Branford Marsalis via live stream on Facebook and YouTube (June 12 at 7 pm). Jazz journalist Bob Blumenthal talks with Grammy-winning saxophonist, NEA Jazz Master, and Tony nominee Branford Marsalis. Marsalis has been called “a sure bet for brilliance” (All About Jazz). Having gained initial acclaim through his work with Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers due to his brash and fiery improvisational flights, Marsalis has also performed and recorded with a who’s-who of jazz giants, including Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Hancock, and Sonny Rollins. As the leader of a dizzying array of ensembles, Marsalis has become entrenched as one of jazz’s most innovative and forward-thinking musicians.