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IMDbPro

Branford Marsalis

  • Music Department
  • Actor
  • Composer
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Branford Marsalis
Branford Marsalis is the eldest son in the "first family of jazz." Born August 26, 1960, Marsalis is an established saxophonist and outspoken iconoclast. He has collaborated with the likes of Herbie Hancock, Art Blakey, Terence Blanchard, Sting, Guru, Miles Davis, Bruce Hornsby and brother Wynton. He was the original bandleader for "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" for nearly three years until he walked away to return to his love, jazz music.
BornAugust 26, 1960
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornAugust 26, 1960
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
  • Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy
    • 11 wins & 15 nominations total

Photos6

Branford Marsalis in Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (2012)
Laurence Fishburne, Spike Lee, Giancarlo Esposito, Jasmine Guy, Darryl M. Bell, James Bond III, Edward G. Bridges, Tisha Campbell, Rusty Cundieff, Art Evans, Kadeem Hardison, Dominic Hoffman, Ellen Holly, Kyme, Cinqué Lee, Joie Lee, Kasi Lemmons, Branford Marsalis, Bill Nunn, Eric Payne, Joe Seneca, Roger Guenveur Smith, and Leonard L. Thomas in School Daze (1988)
Branford Marsalis
Woody Harrelson, Ted Danson, Kelsey Grammer, John Ratzenberger, George Wendt, Jay Leno, Branford Marsalis, Rhea Perlman, Paul Willson, Norm Peterson, and Sam Malone in The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1992)
Laurence Fishburne and Branford Marsalis

Known for:

Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020)
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
6.9
  • Music Department
  • 2020
Billy Crystal and Danny DeVito in Throw Momma from the Train (1987)
Throw Momma from the Train
6.3
  • Lester
  • 1987
Al Pacino and Ellen Barkin in Sea of Love (1989)
Sea of Love
6.8
  • Soundtrack("Lament")
  • 1989
Dan Aykroyd, River Phoenix, Robert Redford, David Strathairn, Mary McDonnell, and Sidney Poitier in Sneakers (1992)
Sneakers
7.1
  • Music Department
  • 1992

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Music Department

  • Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020)
    Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
    • score producer
    • 2020
  • Harry & Branford: A Duo Occasion
    • music mixer
    • music performer
    • TV Movie
    • 2005
  • Anthony Mackie in She Hate Me (2004)
    She Hate Me
    • musician: score
    • 2004
  • Branford Marsalis, Jeff 'Tain' Watts, Eric Revis, Joey Calderazzo, and Branford Marsalis Quartet in Branford Marsalis Quartet: Coltrane's a Love Supreme (2003)
    Branford Marsalis Quartet: Coltrane's a Love Supreme
    • tenor saxophone
    • TV Special
    • 2003
  • Osuofia in London (2003)
    Osuofia in London
    • composer: stock music (uncredited)
    • Video
    • 2003
  • A Huey P. Newton Story (2001)
    A Huey P. Newton Story
    • musician: soprano saxophone and tenor saxophone
    • TV Movie
    • 2001
  • Laurence Fishburne, Annabella Sciorra, Eamonn Walker, and Titus Welliver in Once in the Life (2000)
    Once in the Life
    • conductor
    • music programmer
    • musician: soprano saxophone ...
    • 2000
  • Jay Leno in The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1992)
    The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
    • musical director
    • TV Series
    • 1992–1995
  • Denzel Washington in Malcolm X (1992)
    Malcolm X
    • musician: tenor and soprano saxophones, special appearance
    • 1992
  • Dan Aykroyd, River Phoenix, Robert Redford, David Strathairn, Mary McDonnell, and Sidney Poitier in Sneakers (1992)
    Sneakers
    • musician
    • 1992
  • The Russia House (1990)
    The Russia House
    • featured musician: saxophone solo
    • 1990
  • Public Enemy: Fight the Power (1989)
    Public Enemy: Fight the Power
    • saxophone
    • Music Video
    • 1989
  • Samuel L. Jackson, Spike Lee, Danny Aiello, Ossie Davis, John Turturro, Ruby Dee, Giancarlo Esposito, and Bill Nunn in Do the Right Thing (1989)
    Do the Right Thing
    • musician: tenor and soprano saxophone, The Natural Spiritual Orchestra
    • 1989
  • Laurence Fishburne, Spike Lee, Giancarlo Esposito, Tisha Campbell, and Kyme in School Daze (1988)
    School Daze
    • musician
    • 1988
  • Sting in Sting: Fortress Around Your Heart (1985)
    Sting: Fortress Around Your Heart
    • musician
    • Music Video
    • 1985

Actor

  • The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
    • Host
    • TV Mini Series
    • 2001
  • Samuel L. Jackson, Debbi Morgan, and Lynn Whitfield in Eve's Bayou (1997)
    Eve's Bayou
    • Harry
    • 1997
  • Guru Feat. Chaka Khan: Watch What You Say
    • Branford Marsalis
    • Music Video
    • 1995
  • Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (1995)
    Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
    • Branford Frog (voice)
    • TV Series
    • 1995
  • Buckshot LeFonque: Breakfast @ Denny's (1994)
    Buckshot LeFonque: Breakfast @ Denny's
    • Branford Marsalis
    • Music Video
    • 1994
  • Queen Latifah, Erika Alexander, Kim Fields, Terrence 'T.C.' Carson, Kim Coles, and John Henton in Living Single (1993)
    Living Single
    • Branford Marsalis
    • TV Series
    • 1994
  • Will Smith in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990)
    The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
    • Duane
    • Branford Marsalis
    • TV Series
    • 1994
  • Bruce Hornsby feat. Bradford Marsalis: Barcelona Mona
    • Branford Marsalis
    • Music Video
    • 1992
  • Without a Pass
    • Buddy Warren
    • 1991
  • Leslie Carrara-Rudolph, David Rudman, Matt Vogel, and Ryan Dillon in Sesame Street (1969)
    Sesame Street
    • Forrest Wimbledon
    • TV Series
    • 1991
  • Denzel Washington, Spike Lee, Joie Lee, and Cynda Williams in Mo' Better Blues (1990)
    Mo' Better Blues
    • Party Guest
    • 1990
  • Sting in Sting: Englishman in New York (1988)
    Sting: Englishman in New York
    • Branford Marsalis (uncredited)
    • Music Video
    • 1988
  • Laurence Fishburne, Spike Lee, Giancarlo Esposito, Tisha Campbell, and Kyme in School Daze (1988)
    School Daze
    • Da Fella Jordan
    • 1988
  • Billy Crystal and Danny DeVito in Throw Momma from the Train (1987)
    Throw Momma from the Train
    • Lester
    • 1987
  • Saturday Night Live (1975)
    Saturday Night Live
    • (uncredited)
    • TV Series
    • 1987

Composer

  • Rem
    • Composer
    • 2022
  • Tulsa Burning: The 1921 Race Massacre (2021)
    Tulsa Burning: The 1921 Race Massacre
    • Composer
    • TV Movie
    • 2021
  • Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020)
    Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
    • Composer
    • 2020
  • Oprah Winfrey in The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (2017)
    The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
    • Composer
    • TV Movie
    • 2017
  • 3 A.M. (2001)
    3 A.M.
    • Composer
    • 2001
  • Laurence Fishburne, Annabella Sciorra, Eamonn Walker, and Titus Welliver in Once in the Life (2000)
    Once in the Life
    • Composer
    • 2000
  • Jennifer Tilly in Goosed (1999)
    Goosed
    • Composer
    • 1999
  • M'sieurs dames
    • Composer
    • Short
    • 1997
  • Mr. and Mrs. Loving (1996)
    Mr. and Mrs. Loving
    • Composer
    • TV Movie
    • 1996
  • Ricky Schroder and Ashley Malinger in To My Daughter with Love (1994)
    To My Daughter with Love
    • Composer
    • TV Movie
    • 1994
  • Tales from the Crypt (1989)
    Tales from the Crypt
    • Composer
    • TV Series
    • 1993
  • Black to the Promised Land (1992)
    Black to the Promised Land
    • Composer
    • 1992
  • Rabbit Ears: David and Goliath
    • Composer (music by)
    • Video
    • 1992
  • Branford Marsalis: The Music Tells You
    • Composer
    • 1992
  • The Color of Love
    • Composer
    • 1991

Personal details

Edit
  • Born
    • August 26, 1960
    • New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
  • Spouses
      Teresa Reese1985 - 1994 (divorced, 1 child)
  • Parents
      Delores (Ferdinand) Marsalis
  • Relatives
      Delfeayo Marsalis(Sibling)
  • Publicity listings
    • 1 Interview
    • 2 Articles
    • 2 Pictorials

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    Attended the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts

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