Marsalis has been at the forefront of bringing the saxophone to classical audiences worldwide, beginning with the release of his 1986 album “Romances” with the English Chamber Orchestra. Since then he has become a regular soloist with ensembles such as the Chicago Symphony, Boston Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Australian Chamber Orchestra, and especially the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, which has become a close and frequent musical partner. His wide-ranging repertoire includes compositions by Adams, Debussy, Glazunov, Ibert, Mahler, Milhaud, Villa-Lobos, and John Williams, as well as concerti written for him by Sally Beamish and Gabriel Prokofiev.
Recent and upcoming highlights include John Williams’ Escapades at Tanglewood on the occasion of the composer’s 90th birthday; John Adams’ Saxophone Concerto with the New York Philharmonic; a trio collaboration with saxophonist Timothy McAllister and pianist Liz Ames; and extensive tours throughout North America and Europe with Orpheus. He has collaborated with conductors including Gustavo Dudamel, Susanna Mälkki, Jader Bignamini and Marin Alsop.
Even as he tours the world as a classical soloist, Marsalis continues to perform with The Branford Marsalis Quartet, which he formed in 1986. His work on Broadway has garnered a Drama Desk Award and a Tony nomination for the acclaimed revival of Fences. He recently arranged and orchestrated the music for the Broadway production, A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical. His previous Broadway efforts include music for the revivals of Children of a Lesser God and A Raisin in the Sun, as well as The Mountaintop, which starred Angela Bassett and Samuel L. Jackson. As a composer for film and television, his screen credits include original music composed for: Rustin starring Colman Domingo, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks starring Oprah Winfrey, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom starring Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman, and the EMMY nominated Tulsa Burning: The 1921 Race Massacre.
In his ongoing efforts to help heal and rebuild his hometown New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, together with his childhood friend Harry Connick, Jr. and New Orleans Habitat for Humanity, Marsalis conceived and helped to realize The Musicians’ Village, a community in the Upper Ninth Ward that provides homes to the displaced families of musicians and other local residents. The centerpiece of the Village is the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music, honoring Branford’s father. The Center uses music as the focal point of a holistic strategy to build a healthy community and to deliver a broad range of services to underserved children, youth and musicians from neighborhoods battling poverty and social injustice. In January 2024, following in his father’s footsteps, Marsalis was appointed Artistic Director at the Center and in this capacity, he will shape the artistic trajectory and steer the organization's creative vision for the future.
2025/26 season - 534 words. Not to be altered without permission.