- Doctone
- Maria
- Royal garden Blues
- Evidence
- Cain & Abel
- Spartacus
- No Backstage Pass
- Sidney in Da Haus
- The Dark Keys
- Three Little Words
As these tracks are taken
from a number of different Branford Marsalis
albums, the personnel varies from track to
track but, Branford Marsalis tenor and soprano
saxes is on all the tracks and
Kenny Kirkland - piano
Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts – drums
Robert Hurst – bass
Are on many.
Brother Wynton Marsalis appears
on track 5 and track 8, father Ellis is on
piano on 3 and Ron Carter on bass on 3 and
7.
The Marsalis Dynasty have
been very significant contributors to the
jazz world for many years now, father Ellis
taught at the New Orleans Centre for Creative
Art and his sons, who studied there, have
made it into the highest echelons of the jazz
world. This album is about his eldest son,
the eclectic Branford. His career has followed
many paths, appearing with ‘pop stars, classical
ensembles, acting in motion pictures, directing
a TV talk show and teaching at prestigious
universities. His primary allegiance however
has always been to jazz and this album can
leave no one in any doubt as to why. Of the
more modern players, he is to my mind one
of the very best, he acknowledges all of the
roots of jazz and has not lost his way in
the weird and wonderful, like so many of the
‘so called’ contemporary music players. He
has a superb tone on both tenor and soprano
and a seemingly endless flow of ideas, whether
he is playing a traditional jazz tune aka
Royal Garden Blues, or an original composition
of his own, his playing always holds the listener.
The untimely death of Kenny Kikland robbed
the jazz world of one of its greatest talents
and anyone who doubts that should listen to
his work here. Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts proved a
very exciting partner for Branford and he
never fails to propel the ensemble along with
great passion.
There is not a poor track
here and Nedra Olds-Neal, who did the compilation,
is to be congratulated. The content is varied
and always interesting, I was fascinated by
both the brothers’ contribution to the tribute
to Sidney Bechet on Track 8. B oth Branford
and Wynton have taken the time and trouble
to research the roots of jazz and the playing
of both benefits significantly from it. This
is an album not to be missed by any serious
jazz fan that does not own the albums the
various tracks are taken from.
By the way most of the tracks
are produced by Delfeayo Marsalis another
member of this wonderfully musical family!
Don Mather
CD Reviews
Columbia/Legacy 512913-2 
