[AirForceSax]

Has anybody seen Branford Marsalis live? He's coming to San Antonio this weekend and I'm thinking about getting tickets since I'm in town as well. The tickets are $20 for further back and mezzanine and $40 for pit/rows 1-16. Are his concerts worth spending the extra $20? Money's kind of tight right now.

 

[playitfunky]

If you have been to that venue before and you know it sounds good further back then go for it. If you know it takes being closer then don't go. Other then that he's a great player, but sometimes I get the feeling he doesn't like white people playing jazz. I'm sure I'm wrong but sometimes I get that feeling when I read his interviews. I'm not sure if it's just the reporting or if their is something there. I do remember reading something about white musicians complaining he only hired black musicians to fill the bands at the Lincoln Center while he was director.

 

[plant]

I have seen Branford Marsalis at Ronnie Scotts in London and in the Concert Hall at the Sydney Opera House. Obviously Ronnie Scotts was more intimate and I much preferred that setting. I say go close if you can. I thought he was a great player. His drummer Jeff Watts and WHITE :albino: pianist blew me away.

 

[dagnabbit]

I've seen Branford live, and I think he's worth seeing up close.

I do remember reading something about white musicians complaining he only hired black musicians to fill the bands at the Lincoln Center while he was director.

I believe Wynton was the artistic director at Lincoln Center, not Branford.

 

[JimD]

Yes playitfunky you are confusing him with Wynton. Wynton's attitude to white musicians and even jazz in general is probably best left alone but Branford would be very put out to have that kind of attitude attributed to him. Branford is a fantastic live performer, one of the best around at the moment. I've seen him close up and from far away and as long as he's on form, and he generally is, then you see a great show from wherever. Of course you are always at the mercy of the venue's accoustics and the sound engineers.

 

[Saxplayer67]

I've seen Branford six times live. Three times at the Royal Festival Hall (and met him and Tain backstage with my fiance on one occasion) and three at Ronnie Scotts. The last time was last year at Ronnies and I felt that the band wasn't firing on all cylinders, that they were just going through the motions and couldn't be bothered to provide a spark. But we did chat with Tain after.

But if you do have favourite players, then it's worth seeing them at least once live. This November will be my fifth Sonny Rollins concert!

 

[zivley]

I can only say that some poster here once offended me by saying I'm playing a "wannabe" mouthpiece, so I ask myself, is Brandford Marsallis a "wannabe" player? Because he plays the same mpc I play...
I feel a bit better about my mpc now...

 

[matty]

GO!!! Sit close!! Branford is a baaaaaad boy. He's also very approachable and easy to talk to. Same with Tain. Possibly the best jazz BAND (can't forget Wayne's group) IMHO, playing today.

 

[SaxJazz12]

If you have been to that venue before and you know it sounds good further back then go for it. If you know it takes being closer then don't go. Other then that he's a great player, but sometimes I get the feeling he doesn't like white people playing jazz. I'm sure I'm wrong but sometimes I get that feeling when I read his interviews. I'm not sure if it's just the reporting or if their is something there. I do remember reading something about white musicians complaining he only hired black musicians to fill the bands at the Lincoln Center while he was director.

No--Branford just doesn't like it when people make the assumption that he doesn't like white people playing jazz. In fact, his pianist Joey Calderazzo is white (not that it matters). Also, to my knowledge...Branford was never in charge of hiring at Lincoln center. It's rather sad and ironic how people whine and moan about Lincoln Center having so many black musicians when many of the bands in the swing era prohibited black musicians from joining.

 

[Sam]

Absolutely go. Even if you don't love every note, direct exposure to the top-most level of the art and craft is the best way to move forward!

. . . sometimes I get the feeling he doesn't like white people playing jazz. I'm sure I'm wrong but sometimes I get that feeling when I read his interviews. I'm not sure if it's just the reporting or if their is something there. I do remember reading something about white musicians complaining he only hired black musicians to fill the bands at the Lincoln Center while he was director.

A bunch of people have pointed out that you've confused Branford and Wynton. I'm hoping NOT to pile on, but there are two points worth making:

a) Wynton has hired all brands of humans for the Lincoln Center band. Men, women, white, black, brown, American, European. Even a little research shows that. I've got my beefs as a jazz fan with Wynton but facts are facts.

b) Branford's actions reflect someone who is color-blind. Look it up.

It seems appropriate to take the opportunity to say, "Hey! If you're gonna call somebody racist do A LITTLE research first!" Because that kind of ****-talk on the internet has a life of its own -- it is damn hard to scrub out.

I'm off the soapbox. Have at me if you wanna.

 

[SneekyJones]

Hey Airforcesax,

I saw Brandford live in 1989 in WPB FL. I was only 13 or so at the time, and it was a tremendous inspiration to me. I suggest getting the closer seats. If you play the tenor, you will appreciate watching the actions of this professional up close. You'll "see" his technique!

Let us know how the concert goes please. I am sad to say that I have not been listening to too much Brandford lately. So let me know please. Thanks.

Peace Always,

Sneeky

 

[OOlufoks]

Has anybody seen Branford Marsalis live? He's coming to San Antonio this weekend and I'm thinking about getting tickets since I'm in town as well. The tickets are $20 for further back and mezzanine and $40 for pit/rows 1-16. Are his concerts worth spending the extra $20? Money's kind of tight right now.

All I'll say is brace yourself. Be mentally prepared for the intensity of the BMQ, be it burnouts or ballads.