Archived Event
This is a past event. Tickets are not available for this event.
One of jazz's most heralded saxophonist, Branford Marsalis, brings his world-renowned quartet to QPAC this March and will take the stage for one-off thrilling performance.
Don't miss out on this sensational, captivating night of jazz at its very best.
Marsalis grew up in New Orleans amongst a strong musical family, planning to be a history teacher and play music on the weekends. Plans changed -- he gained acclaim playing with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers and brother Wynton's quintet before stepping out to form his own ensemble.
Marsalis has performed and recorded with a multitude of jazz giants including Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Hancock and Sonny Rollins.
His extraordinary career extends over 25 albums, recordings credits too numerous to list and accolades including three Grammy Awards, the most recent in 2000 for Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group, for the quartet's Contemporary Jazz.
Whilst 49-year-old Marsalis takes centre stage, he will stand alongside long-time fellow band-members bassist Eric Revis and pianist Joey Calderazzo. Squaring off the quartet will be recent recruit Justin Faulkner on drums, replacing quartet original Jeff 'Tain' Watts.
If dubious of Faulkner, the 18-year-old Philadelphia high school senior's ability to fill Watt's large shoes, in concert he does not disappoint.
"To say Faulkner acquitted himself would be a ridiculous understatement...[he] put on one of the most electrifying, dazzling technical displays you're ever going to see in a jazz ensemble," raved the The Boston Globe.
Earlier this year Branford Marsalis Quartet (with Watts) released their most recent studio effort, Metamorphosen. The album marks the tenth anniversary of the quartet, with tracks written by each band member and featuring Marsalis on tenor, soprano and alto saxophones.
"For much of the set the music was almost compulsively loud, fast, aggressive, elaborate, generous and interactive. In other words, the show was extremely good," The New York Times said of a May show at The Jazz Standard.
Australian Leigh Barker joins the tour for all shows. Bassist, composer and bandleader, Melbourne-based Barker studied for a short-time in the US where he spent time Eric Revis and Marsalis. Barker performs regularly with Tom Vincent Band, Leigh Barker Quartet and his latest project, The Shieks, and has two CD releases Off To Moruya and Lynnville.