Record Details
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Record ID
592
Artist
Branford Marsalis
Title
Royal Garden Blues
Field / Genre
Jazz
Year Recorded
1986
Label
CBS
Pressing
Jap
Rating
****
Discs
1
Media
CD
Date Bought
1 Oct 1987
Cost
¤25.00
Cover Name
—
Review
<p>Branford Marsalis' second album as a leader followed his first by three years, and he had grown a lot in the interim. He had switched permanently to tenor (doubling on soprano), left his brother Wynton's group, toured with Sting, and begun heading his own group. Although using quartets on each of the seven selections, Marsalis varies the personnel quite a bit, utilizing pianists Ellis Marsalis, Kenny Kirkland, Larry Willis, and Herbie Hancock; bassists Ron Carter, Charnett Moffett, and Ira Coleman; and drummers Ralph Peterson, Al Foster, Marvin "Smitty" Smith, and Jeff Watts. One of Branford's more playful albums, the repertoire includes a tribute of sorts to his native New Orleans on "Royal Garden Blues" plus "Strike Up the Band" and then-recent originals. An excellent outing.</p><p>— <strong>Scott Yanow</strong></p>