If you listen to a lot of the songs that are popular now, there's very little melody in there. People love the beat. But to musicians, it's melody, because we understand how elusive it is and how hard it is…

Quote by Branford Marsalis

Topics: Branford Marsalis Quotes

I'm not going to play funk licks on a jazz album. That makes no sense.

I'm not going to play funk licks on a jazz album. That makes no sense.

I think that if you keep banging at the door all you need is a...

I think that if you keep banging at the door all you need is a...

It's something that jazz has gotten away from, and it's unfortunate. Players aren't physical anymore.

It's something that jazz has gotten away from, and it's unfortunate. Players aren't physical anymore.

It's hard to get into Newsweek because, as more of our former intellectual magazines take...

It's hard to get into Newsweek because, as more of our former intellectual magazines take...

A lot of musicians have a tough time hearing what we're doing in a trio...

A lot of musicians have a tough time hearing what we're doing in a trio...

Jazz fans love Miles and I love him for a myriad of reasons, but the...

Jazz fans love Miles and I love him for a myriad of reasons, but the...

That's kind of like how jazz is sometimes. You're out there predicting the future, and...

That's kind of like how jazz is sometimes. You're out there predicting the future, and...

I think that one of the problems that jazz has is that it's so incestuous...

I think that one of the problems that jazz has is that it's so incestuous...

The whole point is, give me a break with the standards. You go to the...

The whole point is, give me a break with the standards. You go to the...

I suspect that we might actually start selling some records with these artists in about...

I suspect that we might actually start selling some records with these artists in about...

One of the things that's clear to me from interviews that I've read is that...

One of the things that's clear to me from interviews that I've read is that...

If I were like a lot of other people, then it wouldn't be fun; but...

If I were like a lot of other people, then it wouldn't be fun; but...

Humans are imperfect. That's one of the reasons that classical and jazz are in trouble....

Humans are imperfect. That's one of the reasons that classical and jazz are in trouble....

You hear it in your brain. Whatever makes sense. Some songs work well as quartet...

You hear it in your brain. Whatever makes sense. Some songs work well as quartet...

One of the things that I loved about listening to Miles Davis is that Miles...

One of the things that I loved about listening to Miles Davis is that Miles...

Pop doesn't really look back. It can't. What makes pop work is simplicity.

Pop doesn't really look back. It can't. What makes pop work is simplicity.

There's not one Tin Pan Alley song on my record.

There's not one Tin Pan Alley song on my record.

What is jazz? It, It's almost like asking, What is French? Jazz is a musical...

What is jazz? It, It's almost like asking, What is French? Jazz is a musical...

If you're going to use standards as criteria for signing musicians, you can sign thousands....

If you're going to use standards as criteria for signing musicians, you can sign thousands....

If it's not going to sound like Terrapin Station, what's the point of playing Terrapin...

If it's not going to sound like Terrapin Station, what's the point of playing Terrapin...