Join the Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra on February 1 at 8 p.m. at the Center for the Arts for a thrilling performance featuring GRAMMY Award-winning saxophonist Branford Marsalis. The world-renowned musician, composer, bandleader, educator, and head of Marsalis Music label, is a man of varied and wide-ranging musical interests and talents. He’s at home in dusty jazz clubs and grand halls of music. He’s toured with Sting, collaborated with The Grateful Dead, served as the musical director for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno for two years in the 1990s, has acted in films, composed music for multiple Broadway musicals, and was the host of the National Public Radio program JazzSet. He’s won three GRAMMY Awards and released countless albums.
“What is jazz?” Marsalis once famously asked. “It, It's almost like asking, What is French? Jazz is a musical language. It's a musical dialect that actually embodies the spirit of America.”
Don’t miss what’s sure to be an unforgettable performance on February 1. Join us for a special pre-performance discussion with Branford Marsalis and Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra founder Jim Carroll, on the Monson Grand Tier (third floor) of the Center for the Arts, 45 minutes before the performance begins. And don’t forget to stick around after the show ends to continue the fun with our lobby jazz club, featuring students from Mason Jazz.
Check out this video of Branford Marsalis performing with his quartet