Branford Marsalis Quartet at the Green Music Center

Branford Marsalis is the oldest of four siblings in the infamous musical Marsalis dynasty.  Branford is best known for his contributions to jazz compositions and arranging.  He is also acclaimed for his contributions to classical music, and conducting the Tonight Show orchestra in the 90s.  Marsalis is a three time Grammy winner, Drama Desk winner and Tony and Emmy nominated composer.  Performing for more than four decades, Marsalis is known for numerous styles and innovations as an instrumentalist, arranger and educator.  He's been a music professor at numerous universities including Michigan State and San Francisco State.  Last night Marsalis brought his his world renown quartet to perform an evening of lively jazz to the Green Center at Sonoma State.  Marsalis switched seamlessly from tenor to alto sax.  Joey Calderazzo played on piano, Eric Revis on bass on Justin Faulkner on drums.  Marsalis gracefully and welcomingly stepped aside to let each artist shine on their instrument.  Calderzzo and Faulkner played tightly with syncopated forte, Revis kept the bass flowing connecting the strings and winds allowing Marsalis' sax to glide ebulliently above the assault of the percussive rhythm.  Marsalis and his band brought us all welcomingly into the music.  Walking jauntily on stage, Marsalis adjusted his microphone's cord, "I'm too old for trippin," he joked.   Realizing his unintended pun he chuckled, "On both counts."  The rapport on stage was warm and jovial.  Faulkner, whose swift tempos created blurred circles with his sticks.  He was stuck as the butt of jokes being the youngest member of the group.   Two of Keith Jarret's compositions were performed demonstrating an admiration for the artist and his Jarrett's classical jazz aesthetic.  The first piece sounded like a jazzy Debussy arrangement.  The other piece, "I Fall in Love Too Easily" was one of my favorites; romantic with unexpected flourishes.  Revis' composition "Love Song" was not a soothing or yearning melody, rather a showy and blowsy piece that was very new age and intense.  Afterwards Marsalis joked, "That was more an axiom for a love song."  I quite agreed.  The evening of great jazz concluded with the sole piece of New Orleans jazz and ended all too soon.