To see Branford Marsalis in concert is to witness the culmination of a

life created solely for the furtherance of music. The firstborn son

of epic jazz pianist Ellis and brother to famed trumpeter (and current

Director of Jazz for the Lincoln Center) Wynton, Branford’s life and

talent are simply examples of elements which cannot escape their own

destiny. Yet here he is, pushing both the envelope and the age of

fifty, performing as a classical saxophone soloist, recording and

touring with his beloved quartet, even heading Marsalis Music, the

label he created to both release his own projects and support the most

promising of rising jazz talent. The Branford Marsalis Quartet’s new

album, Metamorphosen, finds the group celebrating nearly a decade together without a change in the line-up, something nearly unheard of in the constantly evolving-and-revolving jazz community. But with chemistry like that between pianist Joey Calderazzo, drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts, bassist Eric Revis and their beloved leader, what other gig could possibly compare?

Thu., March 19, 7:30 & 9:30 p.m.; Fri., March 20, 7:30 & 9:30 p.m.; Sat., March 21, 7:30 & 9:30 p.m.; Sun., March 22, 7:30 p.m., 2009