Renaissance (Branford Marsalis album)

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Renaissance
Studio album by
Branford Marsalis
Released1987
GenreJazz
LabelColumbia
ProducerDelfeayo Marsalis
Branford Marsalis chronology
Royal Garden Blues
(1986) 		Renaissance
(1987) 		Random Abstract
(1988)

Renaissance is an album by the American musician Branford Marsalis, released in 1987.[1][2] It peaked at No. 4 on Billboard's Traditional Jazz Albums chart.[3] Marsalis supported the album with a North American tour.[4]

Production[edit]

The album was produced by Delfeayo Marsalis.[5] Branford Marsalis played tenor and soprano saxophones.[6] Tony Williams played drums; Bob Hurst played bass.[7][8] "St. Thomas" is a version of the Sonny Rollins song performed solo by Marsalis.[9] "The Peacocks" was written by Jimmy Rowles; Herbie Hancock played piano on the track.[10] "Lament" was composed by J. J. Johnson.[11]

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[10]
Los Angeles Times[9]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD[5]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[12]
Windsor StarA−[13]

The Washington Post praised the "gorgeous arrangement of Jimmy Rowles' 'The Peacocks', which deftly combines Marsalis' sinuous soprano sax and pianist Herbie Hancock's impressionistic colors."[7] The St. Petersburg Times deemed Renaissance "a straight-ahead, acoustic jazz album," writing that "Branford is perhaps a bit more facile on soprano but his tenor playing is hearty and nimble."[8] The Globe and Mail determined that "the saxophonist's melodic, laid-back approach gives his solos a graceful, coasting quality and the casualness is endearing."[14] The Windsor Star stated that "Marsalis and pianist Kenny Kirkland keep a firm grip on developing solos in shapely fashion, a highstepping but sinewy dance."[13]

Track listing[edit]

No.TitleLength
1."Just One of Those Things" 
2."Lament" 
3."The Peacocks" 
4."Love Stone" 
5."Citadel" 
6."The Wrath (Structured Burnout)" 
7."St. Thomas" 

References[edit]

  1. ^ Brogan, Daniel (16 Oct 1987). "Branford Marsalis, Renaissance". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. 100.
  2. ^ Brower, W.A. (Nov 18, 1987). "Stay Tuned". The Washington Informer. No. 5. p. 22.
  3. ^ "Branford Marsalis". Billboard. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  4. ^ "Time Off". Leisure and Arts. The Wall Street Journal. 17 Nov 1987. p. 1.
  5. ^ a b The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD (7th ed.). Penguin Books. 2004. p. 1054.
  6. ^ Moody, Lois (27 May 1988). "Marsalis maturing to provide solid fare". Ottawa Citizen. p. B6.
  7. ^ a b Joyce, Mike (11 Oct 1987). "Players with a New Orleans' Pedigree". The Washington Post. p. F8.
  8. ^ a b Snider, Eric (8 Nov 1987). "Branford Marsalis: Renaissance". St. Petersburg Times. p. 2F.
  9. ^ a b Feather, Leonard (3 Jan 1988). "Jazz Album Reviews". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 51.
  10. ^ a b "Renaissance Review by Scott Yanow". AllMusic. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  11. ^ Gioia, Ted (2021). The Jazz Standards: A Guide to the Repertoire. Oxford University Press. p. 251.
  12. ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 450.
  13. ^ a b Stevens, Peter (9 Jan 1988). "Jazz". Windsor Star. p. C2.
  14. ^ Miller, Mark (3 Dec 1987). "Renaissance Branford Marsalis". The Globe and Mail. p. A27.
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