It's something that jazz has gotten away from, and it's unfortunate. Players aren't physical anymore. Branford Marsalis anymorejazzphysical Change image and share on social
The piano is the X factor. People have a tough time following the structures when there's no piano there, spelling it out. It makes it more easily understood, particularly to people who don't know as much about music. Branford Marsalis easilyfactormake share on social
My dad was a musician, it was just what he did, like another guy's dad drives a meat truck. Our house was normal. We weren't taken with the fact our dad was a musician. Branford Marsalis daddrivefact Change image and share on social
Pop doesn't really look back. It can't. What makes pop work is simplicity. Branford Marsalis backmakepop Change image and share on social
If you listen to a lot of the songs that are popular now, there's very little melody in there. People love the beat. But to musicians, it's melody, because we understand how elusive it is and how hard it is to hold. Branford Marsalis beatelusivehard share on social
One of the things that I loved about listening to Miles Davis is that Miles always had an instinct for which musicians were great for what situations. He could always pick a band, and that was the thing that separated him from everybody else. Branford Marsalis banddavisgreat share on social
When you're dealing with music without words, titles are more a means of identification than anything else. What's the point of getting lofty? Branford Marsalis dealidentificationlofty Change image and share on social
I gave up my base in popular culture when I left the Tonight Show. Branford Marsalis baseculturegive Change image and share on social
The lion's share of what I hear right now are people who, intentional or accidental, have avoided all jazz prior to 1960. And all the musicians who were successful in the '60s spent their entire lives, prior to 1960, listening to all the musicians these people avoid. Branford Marsalis 60saccidentalavoid share on social
You hear it in your brain. Whatever makes sense. Some songs work well as quartet songs, sometimes they don't. Branford Marsalis brainhearmake Change image and share on social
