Submitted photo by Eric Ryan AndersonTuesday’s concert showcases (from left) Branford Marsalis, saxophone; Justin Faulkner, drums; Eric Revis, bass; and Joey Calderazzo, piano.

Throughout his 40 years in the international spotlight, saxophonist Branford Marsalis has continually expanded his role as an artist, adding “composer, bandleader and educator” to his list of titles. In the process, he has collected three Grammy Awards, a citation by the National Endowment for the Arts as a Jazz Master and numerous other accolades. 

Thomasville Entertainment Foundation will present this extraordinary talent as the final  offering of its 84th performance season on Tuesday, April 26, at the Thomasville Center for the Arts.

“An Evening with Branford Marsalis” will feature his jazz quartet, and the program begins at 7:30 p.m. Rounding out the Branford Marsalis Quartet are Joey Calderazzo, piano; Eric Revis, bass and Justin Faulkner, drums.

“TEF presented Branford Marsalis and Joey Calderazzo as a duo on our 75th anniversary series,” said Ginny LeGette, TEF’s vice president for Box Office, “and the response to their return has been tremendous. This concert sold out quickly, and there is currently a waiting list for tickets.”

Emerging from the rich cultural environment of New Orleans, Branford, oldest son of the late pianist/educator Ellis Marsalis, was drawn into the world of music along with siblings Wynton, Delfeayo and Jason. The Branford Marsalis Quartet has been his primary means of expression since 1986. In that time, the Quartet has explored an astonishing range of musical styles, notably on the band’s 2019 release, The Secret Between the Shadow and the Soul. 

In addition to his appearances with the quartet, Marsalis is a sought-after soloist with classical ensembles and acclaimed orchestras around the world, with a repertoire that includes works by Copland, Debussy, Glazunov, Ibert, Mahler, Milhaud, Rorem, Vaughan Williams and Villa-Lobos. Meanwhile, guest performances with the Grateful Dead and collaborations with Sting have gained him fans in the pop music arena. From 1992-95 he served as bandleader on NBC’s “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.”

Broadway collaborations brought Marsalis a Drama Desk Award and Tony nominations for revivals of Children of a Lesser God, Fences, and A Raisin in the Sun. His screen credits include original music composed for Spike Lee’s Mo’ Better Blues, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks starring Oprah Winfrey, the Netflix film adaptation, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom starring Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman, and numerous minor roles in film and television.

As an educator, Marsalis established long-term relationships with Michigan State, San Francisco State and North Carolina Central universities and conducts workshops around the globe. He was awarded Honorary Doctor of Music degrees from Berklee College of Music (2006) and the University of North Carolina (2012).

After Hurricane Katrina, Branford and fellow New Orleanian and jazz musician Harry Connick Jr., created a residential “Musicians’ Village” in a particularly devastated section of their native city. At the heart of the community is the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music whose aim is to build a healthy community through music and to deliver an array of services to children and musicians. 

LeGette said a few tickets may be released at the last minute and made available at the door on Tuesday, with seats for this concert at $38 for adults, $15 for students. All seats are reserved. 

For more information, call the Thomasville Entertainment Foundation office at (229) 226-7404.