One of the truly great artists of our time, Grammy Award winner and NEA Jazz Master Branford Marsalis is acclaimed for his work not only in jazz but also in classical music, film scoring, and pop collaborations with artists like Sting and the Grateful Dead. At the core of his musical expression is the Branford Marsalis Quartet, a highly celebrated ensemble known for its uncompromising vision and “telepathic communication” built over decades. The current lineup features Marsalis on saxophones, alongside pianist Joey Calderazzo, bassist Eric Revis, and drummer Justin Faulkner. Revis joined in 1996, Calderazzo in 1999, and Faulkner in 2009, creating a group history that is nearly unparalleled among contemporary ensembles.

The quartet’s most recent album, their Blue Note Records debut, titled Belonging is a full-album reinterpretation of the 1974 ECM album of the same name by pianist Keith Jarrett’s European Quartet. Rather than a slavish tribute or a complete deconstruction, the quartet’s interpretation injects “a fresh intensity” into the material, tackling its emotional extremes and idiosyncratic compositions. Marsalis and his group successfully honor the somber beauty and prog-like exuberance of the original work while maintaining their own distinct, dynamic identity.