Renowned Saxophonist Branford Marsalis Joins Juilliard Jazz Ensembles on Tuesday, December 1 at 8 PM in Juilliard's Paul Hall

Saxophonist and three-time Grammy winner Branford Marsalis joins Juilliard's Jazz Ensembles for an evening featuring his original compositions and jazz standards on Tuesday, December 1 at 8 PM in Juilliard's Paul Hall (155 West 65^th Street). The program includes: 52^nd Street Theme (Thelonious Monk), Gloomy Sunday, Teo (Thelonious Monk) and arrangements of his original compositions: Bullworth, Cassandra, In the Crease, Jaberwocky, Lykeif, and Spartacus. Mr. Marsalis' original compositions are performed in arrangements by Juilliard Jazz students. The concert comes after a short residency at Juilliard by Mr. Marsalis which includes speaking at "The Business of Jazz" class, giving a saxophone master class, leading a jazz improvisation class, and of course, rehearsals. Mr. Marsalis is dedicated to the changing future of jazz and has shared his knowledge in such residencies at many universities.

Juilliard Jazz students performing on December 1 in two Juilliard Jazz Ensembles are: Peter Reardon-Anderson (tenor saxophone), Tony Lustig (baritone saxophone), Michael Cottone (trumpet), Randall Haywood (trumpet), Willie Applewhite (trombone), Kris Bowers (piano), Phil Kuehn (bass), Aaron Kimmel (drums), Will Reardon-Anderson (alto saxophone), Jeremy Viner (tenor saxophone), Matthew Jodrell (trumpet), Melissa Jean (trombone), Tom Guarna (guitar), Samora Pinderhughes (piano), Clovis Nicolas (bass), Bryan Carter (drums).

Branford Marsalis, born in 1960, has always been a man of numerous musical interests, from jazz, blues and funk to such classical music projects as his fall 2008 tour with Marsalis Brasilianos. The three-time Grammy winner has continued to exercise and expand his skills as an instrumentalist, a composer, and the head of Marsalis Music, the label he founded in 2002 that has allowed him to produce both his own projects and those of the jazz world's most promising new and established artists.

The New Orleans native was born into one of the city's most distinguished musical families, which includes patriarch/pianist/educator Ellis and Branford's siblings Wynton, Delfeayo and Jason. He gained initial acclaim through his work with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers and his brother Wynton's quintet in the early 1980s before forming his own ensemble. He also has performed and recorded with a who's-who of jazz giants, including Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Hancock, and Sonny Rollins.

Known for his innovative spirit and broad musical scope, Mr. Marsalis is equally at home on the stages of the world's greatest clubs and concert hall, where he has performed jazz with his Quartet and his own unique musical approach to contemporary popular music with his band Buckshot LeFonque. In recent years, he also has become increasingly active as a featured soloist with such acclaimed orchestras as the Chicago, Detroit, Düsseldorf, and North Carolina Symphonies and the Boston Pops, in a growing repertoire that includes compositions by Copland, Debussy, Glazunov, Ibert, Mahler, Milhaud, Rorem, and Vaughan Williams. Mr. Marsalis' nearly two dozen recordings in various styles have received numerous accolades.

Among the most socially conscious voices in the arts, Mr. Marsalis quickly immersed himself in relief efforts following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. He is the honorary chair of the New Orleans Habitat for Humanity effort to rebuild the city, and together with his friend, Harry Connick, Jr., conceived the Habitat Musicians' Village currently under construction in the city's historic Ninth Ward.

One of Juilliard's newest programs, Juilliard Jazz teaches at bachelor through master and artist diploma levels, with its most advanced artist diploma program a collaboration with Jazz at Lincoln Center, founded in 2001. Its alumni already have made their mark on jazz culture in NYC and beyond. Recent graduates include James Burton, Etienne Charles; Aaron Diehl and Marion Felder; and Jon Irabagon, Lage Lund, and Ben Williams (all Thelonious Monk Competition winners), among others.

JUILLIARD JAZZ CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Tuesday, December 1, 8 PM, Juilliard's Paul Hall

Juilliard Jazz Ensembles

An Evening with Branford Marsalis

LIMITED FREE tickets available November 19 at the Janet and Leonard Kramer Box Office at Juilliard

Wednesday, January 20, 8 PM, Juilliard's Paul Hall

Juilliard Jazz Ensembles

LIMITED FREE tickets available January 6 at the Janet and Leonard Kramer Box Office at Juilliard

Tuesday, February 2, 8 PM, Juilliard's Peter Jay Sharp Theater

An Evening with Christian McBride and the Juilliard Jazz Orchestra

featuring The Movement Revisited

New York debut of the work commissioned and premiered at the Hollywood Bowl

Juilliard Big Band and Choir

FREE tickets available beginning January 19 at the Janet and Leonard Kramer Box Office at Juilliard

Tuesday, February 23, 8 PM, Juilliard's Paul Hall

Juilliard Jazz Ensembles

FREE tickets available beginning February 9 at the Janet and Leonard Kramer Box Office at Juilliard

Monday, March 22, 8 PM, Juilliard's Paul Hall

Student Originals

FREE tickets available beginning March 8 at the Janet and Leonard Kramer Box Office at Juilliard

Thursday, April 8, 8 PM, Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center

Juilliard Jazz Orchestra

Student Original Compositions

FREE tickets available beginning March 25 at the Janet and Leonard Kramer Box Office at Juilliard

Monday, April 19, 8 PM, Paul Hall

Artist Diploma Ensemble

Terell Stafford, Guest Artist

LIMITED FREE tickets available beginning April 5 at the Janet and Leonard Kramer Box Office at Juilliard

For further information, call (212) 769-7406 or go to www.juilliard.edu.

Juilliard Jazz students also will be appearing at the Blue Note and Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola throughout the season.