Perspectives: Branford Marsalis

The saxophone mega-star talks to David about his experiences with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. This interview was made in preparation for David's paper 'The Last Jazz Messengers: The Final Leadership of Art Blakey', which also received contributions from Brian Lynch, Javon Jackson and Jean Toussaint.

David: Do you think that your playing improved during your stay with the Messengers as a result of Art Blakey or simply due to the consistency of performing every night, or both?

Branford: Both. Art Blakey had a memory for melody. As a result, he could sing solos he heard Charlie Parker play when he played with him. So he could tell me specifically what he felt was wrong with my playing. Sometimes he had a solution, sometimes I had to figure it out myself. And the good fortune of being able to work it out on a nightly basis cannot be understated.

David: Can you share any memorable events that took place when you were in the band?

Branford: I have a few. Joining the group was one. Art teaching me how to keep time on the drums was another (he felt that to play with a jazz group, the soloist should be able to understand the function of a drummer in a combo. And it was not as the timekeeper).

David: As a young musician, was Art ever tough on you? For example if you had a bad night or were late for a gig?

Branford: My personality did not mesh with Art's, so he was hard on me all the time. I was never late, I did not drink, and was not impressed with the jazz lifestyle. Art was used to playing with young people with either weaker or more impressionable personalities, and didn't appreciate my forwardness. I didn't play very well, so every night was a bad night for me.

David: The Messengers had such an amazing history of players and you were no doubt constantly being compared to previous Messengers. The fact that your brother Wynton was doing great things in the band must have really put pressure on you to do well when you joined. Do you think this made you stronger and pushed you towards your success or did it not bother you? Were you and your brothers competitive in the early days?

Branford: I wasn't serious about being a jazz musician for a long time. If it weren't for Wynton, I'd have never moved to New York. If it weren't for Wynton, I would never have been in Art's band, either. Resenting him would have been very human to some, but very illogical to me, given all of the good things he did for me. We weren't being compared to the earlier versions of the Messengers. We loved them, and never thought of ourselves as being in competition with them. We were trying to extend what they had started, so again, any feelings to the contrary are simply illogical. When Wynton and I were playing our last gig with Art at Fat Tuesdays in NY, Art introduced us as "the best damn band I've had since 1961." That was a great feeling, but was never on our minds.

For more information on Branford visit www.branfordmarsalis.com.