Renaissance (Branford Marsalis album)

Renaissance is an album by the American musician Branford Marsalis, released in 1987.[1][2] It peaked at No. 4 on Billboard's Traditional Jazz Albums chart.[3] Marsalis supported the album with a North American tour.[4]

Renaissance
Studio album by
Released1987
GenreJazz
LabelColumbia
ProducerDelfeayo Marsalis
Branford Marsalis chronology
Royal Garden Blues
(1986)
Renaissance
(1987)
Random Abstract
(1988)

Production

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The album was produced by Delfeayo Marsalis.[5] Branford Marsalis played tenor and soprano saxophones.[6] Tony Williams played drums; Bob Hurst played bass.[7][8] "St. Thomas" is a version of the Sonny Rollins song performed solo by Marsalis.[9] "The Peacocks" was written by Jimmy Rowles; Herbie Hancock played piano on the track.[10] "Lament" was composed by J. J. Johnson.[11]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [10]
Los Angeles Times     [9]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD    [5]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide     [12]
Windsor StarA−[13]

The Washington Post praised the "gorgeous arrangement of Jimmy Rowles' 'The Peacocks', which deftly combines Marsalis' sinuous soprano sax and pianist Herbie Hancock's impressionistic colors."[7] The St. Petersburg Times deemed Renaissance "a straight-ahead, acoustic jazz album," writing that "Branford is perhaps a bit more facile on soprano but his tenor playing is hearty and nimble."[8] The Globe and Mail determined that "the saxophonist's melodic, laid-back approach gives his solos a graceful, coasting quality and the casualness is endearing."[14] The Windsor Star stated that "Marsalis and pianist Kenny Kirkland keep a firm grip on developing solos in shapely fashion, a highstepping but sinewy dance."[13]

Track listing

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No.TitleLength
1."Just One of Those Things" 
2."Lament" 
3."The Peacocks" 
4."Love Stone" 
5."Citadel" 
6."The Wrath (Structured Burnout)" 
7."St. Thomas" 

References

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  1. ^ Brogan, Daniel (16 Oct 1987). "Branford Marsalis, Renaissance". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. 100.
  2. ^ Brower, W.A. (Nov 18, 1987). "Stay Tuned". The Washington Informer. No. 5. p. 22.
  3. ^ "Branford Marsalis". Billboard. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  4. ^ "Time Off". Leisure and Arts. The Wall Street Journal. 17 Nov 1987. p. 1.
  5. ^ a b The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD (7th ed.). Penguin Books. 2004. p. 1054.
  6. ^ Moody, Lois (27 May 1988). "Marsalis maturing to provide solid fare". Ottawa Citizen. p. B6.
  7. ^ a b Joyce, Mike (11 Oct 1987). "Players with a New Orleans' Pedigree". The Washington Post. p. F8.
  8. ^ a b Snider, Eric (8 Nov 1987). "Branford Marsalis: Renaissance". St. Petersburg Times. p. 2F.
  9. ^ a b Feather, Leonard (3 Jan 1988). "Jazz Album Reviews". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 51.
  10. ^ a b "Renaissance Review by Scott Yanow". AllMusic. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  11. ^ Gioia, Ted (2021). The Jazz Standards: A Guide to the Repertoire. Oxford University Press. p. 251.
  12. ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 450.
  13. ^ a b Stevens, Peter (9 Jan 1988). "Jazz". Windsor Star. p. C2.
  14. ^ Miller, Mark (3 Dec 1987). "Renaissance Branford Marsalis". The Globe and Mail. p. A27.