Wynton Marsalis no longer has a jazz record label, and Branford Marsalis (pictured) has started his own. It could be considered a sign of the turmoil that the jazz business is facing right now that two of its biggest stars are without major-label homes, or it could just be that these musicians are tired of all the politics involved with corporate labels and have decided to go it alone. Either way, the Marsalis brothers aren’t slowing down: Wynton has a classical album, All Rise, out now, and Branford’s first release on Marsalis Music is his own Footsteps of Our Fathers. Plus, they are teaming up in late February 2003 to perform seven concerts together.
Branford is touring throughout the fall behind Footsteps, which is a primarily a tribute to Sonny Rollins’ “Freedom Suite” and John Coltrane’s “A Love Supreme.” The saxophonist then takes a break from the road through December and January, resuming his concert schedule on February 17 in Naples, Florida, before he and Wynton join together February 23, 2003, in Ottawa, Ontario’s National Arts Centre Theatre for the first of seven historic shows together.
Here’s the complete tour schedule:
September
16 – Northhampton, MA – Iron Horse
17 – Albany, NY – WAMC PAC
18 – Lennox Lounge – New York, NY
19 – New York, NY – Bottom Line
20 – Brooklyn, NY – B.A.M. Cafe (RESERVE NOW!)
27 – Sedona, AZ – Sedona Jazz On The Rocks
30 – San Cruz, CA – Kuumbwa Jazz Center
October
01 – Seattle, WA – Jazz Alley
02 – Seattle, WA – Jazz Alley
03 – Seattle, WA – Jazz Alley
04 – Seattle, WA – Jazz Alley
05 – Seattle, WA – Jazz Alley
06 – Seattle, WA – Jazz Alley
08 – Los Angeles, CA – Roxy Theatre
09 – Colorado Springs, CO – 32 Bleu
10 – Boulder, CO – Boulder Theatre
13 – Chicago, IL – Old Town School
14 – Chicago, IL – Green Mill
15 – Chicago, IL – Park West
16 – Sewanee, TN – University of the South
18 – Brookville, NY – Tilles Center for the Perf Arts
19 – Peekskill, NY – Paramount Center for the Arts
26 – San Francisco, CA – Masonic Auditorium (co-bill w/ Wayne Shorter)
November
15 – Ann Arbor, MI – Brighton Center for the Arts
16 – Washington DC – Blues Alley
17 – Washington DC – Blues Alley
18 – Washington DC – Blues Alley
19 – Washington DC – Blues Alley
20 – Boston, MA – Berklee PAC
February
17 – Naples, FL – Philharmonic Center for the Arts
All of the following dates are with Wynton Marsalis
23 – Ottawa, ON – National Arts Centre Theatre
24 – Toronto, ON – Massey Hall
25 – Montreal, QC – Place des Arts
27 – Schenectady, NY – Proctor’s Theatre
March
01 – Newark, NJ – New Jersey Performing Arts Center
02 – Philadelphia, PA – Verizon Hall @ Kimmel Center
03 – Boston, MA – Symphony Hall
