The way to learn the language is to rip off other players. As Benny Golson told me, "We all start off sounding like other cats. And gradually, a lick here or there,we start to sound like ourselves. But it takes… — Branford Marsalis Copy Share Image
I like to make records sound good. I'm more like a reducer than a producer. If an artist cannot produce themselves, what's the point? — Branford Marsalis Copy Share Image
You hear it in your brain. Whatever makes sense. Some songs work well as quartet songs, sometimes they don't. — Branford Marsalis Copy Share Image
That's kind of like how jazz is sometimes. You're out there predicting the future, and no one believes you. — Branford Marsalis Copy Share Image
There's a certain kind of motion and pacing that our music has, and this just doesn't have that. We just kind of rushed to… — Branford Marsalis Copy Share Image
We played it as long as we could play it on that CD and I think it might be 50 minutes, maybe. What you… — Branford Marsalis Copy Share Image
The piano is the X factor. People have a tough time following the structures when there's no piano there, spelling it out. It makes… — Branford Marsalis Copy Share Image
If I were like a lot of other people, then it wouldn't be fun; but since I'm like me, it's okay. — Branford Marsalis Copy Share Image
The biggest problem with American music right now, is that kids don't listen. They come by it honestly, Americans don't listen anyway. When people… — Branford Marsalis Copy Share Image
What is jazz? It, It's almost like asking, What is French? Jazz is a musical language. It's a musical dialect that actually embodies the… — Branford Marsalis Copy Share Image
Everybody talks about finding your voice. Do your homework and your voice will find you. — Branford Marsalis Copy Share Image
I'm not going to play funk licks on a jazz album. That makes no sense. — Branford Marsalis Copy Share Image
Pop doesn't really look back. It can't. What makes pop work is simplicity. — Branford Marsalis Copy Share Image
