Justin Faulkner

Saxophonist and composer Branford Marsalis has already been an established name in jazz for decades. He is the oldest offspring of the Marsalis dynasty from New Orleans, which also includes brothers Wynton (trumpet), Delfeayo (trombone) and Jason (drums). Marsalis is not a jazz purist. He has collaborated with pop stars, such as Sting and Tina Turner, and he loves European classical music. Now, Hungarian folk music, which has already attracted composers for centuries, is the focus and Branford Marsalis shares the stage with a superb Hungarian ensemble. Originally, Marsalis wanted to »jazz up« Hungarian songs – as with other music so conventionally on the scene. But he must have realised: »The chords, the harmonies are perfect just as they are. They make exactly the right emotional impact.« So, he prefixed the traditional songs with introductions which steadily merge into the original. And do so very successfully – the audience was impressed at the premiere in the commissioning Müpa concert hall in Budapest.