The lion's share of what I hear right now are people who, intentional or accidental, have avoided all jazz prior to 1960. And all the musicians who were successful in the '60s spent their entire lives, prior to 1960, listening…

Quote by Branford Marsalis

Topics: Branford Marsalis Quotes

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...

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 listen to a lot of the songs that are popular now, there's very...

If you listen to a lot of the songs that are popular now, there's very...

The biggest problem with American music right now, is that kids don't listen. They come...

The biggest problem with American music right now, is that kids don't listen. They come...

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...

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...

We played it as long as we could play it on that CD and I...

We played it as long as we could play it on that CD and I...

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

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

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...

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...

I gave up my base in popular culture when I left the Tonight Show.

I gave up my base in popular culture when I left the Tonight Show.

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...

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.

The piano is the X factor. People have a tough time following the structures when...

The piano is the X factor. People have a tough time following the structures when...

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...

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.

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 like to make records sound good. I'm more like a reducer than a producer....

I like to make records sound good. I'm more like a reducer than a producer....