Article Contributed by Mike
Published on November 18, 2025
BRANFORD MARSALIS QUARTET – 04.09.25 – BOULDER THEATER
For more than four decades, Branford Marsalis has stood at the forefront of modern jazz — a saxophonist whose sound, vision, and musical curiosity continue to evolve without limits. This spring, Denver Jazz Fest brings his acclaimed quartet to the Boulder Theater for a special performance on April 9, 2026. Tickets go on sale Friday, November 7 at 10:00 am.
Presented by Denver Jazz Fest, the night marks a rare Colorado appearance for one of jazz’s most enduring ensembles. Reserved seated tickets are available for all ages (under 16 with an adult). Purchase tickets here: https://www.z2ent.com/events/detail/branford-marsalis-2026-bt.
Earlier this year, the Blue Note Records artist released Belonging, a full-album interpretation of Keith Jarrett’s 1974 ECM release that introduced the pianist’s iconic European Quartet. It is Marsalis’ first new release since 2019 and his debut on the storied Blue Note label — a project that showcases his quartet’s remarkable synergy and decades-deep rapport.
Marsalis wasn’t aware of Jarrett’s Belonging when it was first released. “I was a freshman in high school, listening to R&B,” he recalls. “I didn’t know Belonging existed.” The revelation came years later when pianist Kenny Kirkland slipped the music into his headphones during a flight in the 1980s. One listen to Jarrett’s European Quartet — with Jan Garbarek, Palle Danielsson, and Jon Christensen — sent him into a deep dive that eventually led to this new recording.
The seed for the project was planted when the Marsalis Quartet recorded “The Windup” for their 2019 album The Secret Between the Shadow and the Soul. Bassist Eric Revis suggested going even further: “We should just record Belonging. The whole album is so great and we could do things with it.” Even after the pandemic, the group felt the same inspiration — and the concept became reality.
On Belonging, Marsalis balances reverence and reinvention. “On the composition ‘Belonging,’ I clearly played things that Jan played on the record,” he says. “I didn’t try to reject the idea when it occurred, but at no point did we plan to consciously pay tribute.” Instead, the quartet approached the material with the same spirit they’ve brought to works by Mingus, Coltrane, and the Modern Jazz Quartet: respecting the architecture while letting their own voice shape the space.
The quartet’s uniquely tight interplay elevates the album’s approach. With Revis joining in 1996, pianist Joey Calderazzo in 1999, and drummer Justin Faulkner in 2009, the group has an almost chamber-like sensitivity and a collective instinct developed over decades. “The whole purpose of this group is to be more like a chamber group than a jazz group,” Marsalis says. “All any audience wants is a great melody and a great beat. It doesn’t really matter where our journey goes, as long as we keep the dance going.”
Fans can expect a powerful, deeply musical night at the Boulder Theater — one that reflects Marsalis’ lifelong commitment to melody, connection, and fearless creativity.
BRANFORD MARSALIS QUARTET • BOULDER THEATER
Thursday, April 9, 2026
Doors 7:00 pm | Show 8:00 pm
Tickets on sale November 7 at 10:00 am
