Branford Marsalis Quartet’s Music from Mo’ Better Blues

Branford Marsalis Quartet’s Music from Mo’ Better Blues is a great album for any fan of jazz music.

Introduction

The Branford Marsalis Quartet’s Music from Mo’ Better Blues is the soundtrack to Spike Lee’s film of the same name. Released in 1990 on Columbia Records, it features nine original compositions by saxophonist Branford Marsalis and pianist Kenny Kirkland, who were then members of Marsalis’ quartet.

The album received critical acclaim and won a Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Individual or Group.

The Branford Marsalis Quartet

The Branford Marsalis Quartet is a jazz quartet co-led by saxophonist Branford Marsalis and pianist Joey Calderazzo that debuted in 1986. The original personnel was Marsalis, bassist Bob Hurst, drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts, and Calderazzo. Wynton Marsalis guested on two tracks of their self-titled 1987 album – his only recording as a sideman with his brother’s group.

In 1995, Calderazzo replaced Watts as the permanent drummer, and the group has remained intact since then. In addition to original compositions by all three of the bandleaders, the quartet’s repertoire includes jazz standards and other works by Thelonious Monk, McCoy Tyner, Duke Ellington, Wayne Shorter, Horace Silver, Ornette Coleman, Andrew Hill, Chick Corea and John Coltrane.

The Music from Mo’ Better Blues

The Branford Marsalis Quartet is a jazz group that recorded the soundtrack for the film Mo’ Better Blues. The album was released in 1990 on Columbia Records. The group was led by saxophonist Branford Marsalis and also featured pianist Kenny Kirkland, bassist Bob Hurst, and drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts.

The Opening Scene

The opening scene is the most important part of any movie. It sets the tone and establishes the mood for the rest of the film. The opening scene of Mo’ Better Blues is no different.

The film opens with a close up of a trumpet being played by Marsalis’ character, Bleek Gilliam. The camera then pulls back to reveal Bleek in a dark jazz club, surrounded by smoke and shadows. The music is slow and haunting, with a feeling of foreboding. This scene establishes Bleek as a talented but troubled musician, and sets the stage for the conflict that will drive the rest of the film.

The Club Scene

The Branford Marsalis Quartet’s music for Spike Lee’s film Mo’ Better Blues features some of the most innovative and challenging jazz to come out of the late-’80s and early-’90s. The band — which features saxophonist Marsalis, pianist Joey Calderazzo, bassist Bob Hurst, and drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts — meshes traditional jazz, hard bop, and post-bop influences into a potent whole that’s both accessible and challenging. It also helps that young bloods Calderazzo and Watts were maturing into top-flight musicians during the recording of these sessions; they help push Marsalis and Hurst to some of their best work in years. The resulting record is easily one of Branford’s finest hours on disc.

The Recording Studio Scene

The recording studio scene is one of the most memorable moments in Mo’ Better Blues. The Branford Marsalis Quartet is in full swing, playing hard and fast with a passion that is palpable. The camera zooms in on Branford’s face as he loses himself in the music, his eyes closed and his head nodding in time with the beat. It’s a moment of pure transcendence, and it’s impossible not to be moved by the power of the music.

Conclusion

The Branford Marsalis Quartet’s Music from Mo’ Better Blues is a great album for fans of jazz and movie scores alike. Featuring some of Marsalis’ best work on saxophone, the quartet brings a level of energy and excitement to Spike Lee’s film that is unmatched by any other soundtrack. If you’re a fan of either jazz or movie scores, this album is a must-have.