Branford Marsalis' ’Braggtown’

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The Branford Marsalis Quartet confirms its place as one of the leading instrumental music ensembles in any genre with Braggtown, scheduled for release on the saxophonist's Marsalis Music label on September 12. Braggtown takes its title from a section of Durham, North Carolina, the city where Marsalis has lived for the past four years. The album was recorded in Durham's Hayti Heritage Center, a room with marvelous acoustics that also yielded last year's popular Harry Connick, Jr. release on Marsalis Music, Occasion.

"This is a group with a tighter, more explosive sound, " says Marsalis of his acclaimed quartet, which features pianist Joey Calderazzo, bassist Eric Revis and drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts. "Even if you only heard us three or four years ago we sound different, which is the natural way a band grows when everyone is working at getting better."

Marsalis chose to build Braggtown around the band's strongest new material, with an emphasis on what he calls "high-energy burnouts." To that end, the disc includes Marsalis' "Jack Baker, " Revis' "Black Elk Speaks" and Watts' "Blakzilla" inspired by the theme from the classic Japanese sci-fi film Godzilla. There are more contemplative moments as well, in new compositions by the leader ("Faith") and Calderazzo ("Hope"), as well as a stunning interpretation of 17th Century British composer Henry Purcell's "O, Solitude" and Marsalis' mesmerizing original "Sir Roderick, the Aloof."

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