What is jazz? It, It's almost like asking, What is French? Jazz is a musical language. It's a musical dialect that actually embodies the spirit of America.

Quote by Branford Marsalis

Topics: Branford Marsalis Quotes

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

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

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...

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.

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...

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...

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'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...

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...

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...

When you're dealing with music without words, titles are more a means of identification than...

When you're dealing with music without words, titles are more a means of identification than...

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.

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.

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....

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...

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...

My dad was a musician, it was just what he did, like another guy's dad...

My dad was a musician, it was just what he did, like another guy's dad...

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...

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...

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...

Coltrane came to New Orleans one day and he was talking about the jazz scene....

Coltrane came to New Orleans one day and he was talking about the jazz scene....