# For saxophone and large scale pipe organ: Branford Marsalis And Jean-Willy Kunz: Video

- Link: https://jazzblues.eu/2018/02/24/for-saxophone-and-large-scale-pipe-organ-branford-marsalis-and-jean-willy-kunz-video/
- Published: 2018-02-24T14:53:19+01:00
- Author: https://JazzBlues.EU

**This concert of mostly classical works for saxophone and large scale pipe organ
turned out to be somewhat of a surprise to the audience of jazz fans, who packed
in to hear their hero, Branford Marsalis. The concert emcee, Michael Barone (a radio
producer who also hosts a program called “PipeDreams”), asked for a show of hands
of those who were “organ buffs.” Less than a dozen in an audience of about 1,000
raised their hands. Nevertheless, for reasons to be described, the jazz fans warmed
up to the music quickly.**

Many jazz musicians are classically trained and often harbor a desire to perform
classical pieces in concert. A singular example was Benny Goodman, who performed
Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto at Carnegie Hall and elsewhere. Branford’s brother Wynton
Marsalis made a best seller album of trumpet concertos (Haydn-Hummel-L. Mozart, 
Sony Classical, 1992) and composed a violin concerto. But the current concert was
well-conceived to provide something more than a jazz icon showing his classical 
side. First of all, Jean-Willy Kunz (resident organist of the Symphonique de Montreal)
played the magnificent Cooper Memorial Organ in a way that would thrill even the
tone deaf. He began with an extended solo fanfare, Maxime Goulet’s “Citius, altius,
fortius!” This reviewer has heard nothing like that theatrical, rousing organ sound
since his mom took him to Radio City Music Hall as a kid.

For the next piece, Branford Marsalis came on stage and, in a very relaxed manner,
picked up his soprano saxophone for Louis Vierne’s “Les Angelus, op. 57.” Vierne
was the organist at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, and his romantic style of composing
was influenced by impressionist composers like Debussy and Ravel. Since the Great
American Songbook grew out of romanticism and impressionism, jazz fans were well-
prepared to enjoy such music. The pleasure was enhanced by Branford’s superb tone
and virtuosity and the duo’s fine execution of this and the other compositions, 
all of which were based on harmonic progressions familiar to jazz listeners. Marsalis
and Kunz were seriously thinking of their audience when they planned this concert.
For instance, a Latin influence was manifest in the next piece, Pedro Iturrolde’s“
Pequeno Czorda.”

Following the intermission, the music took on a stronger jazz-related impact. The
most aesthetically beautiful moments of the concert occurred with an excerpt from
Astor Piazzola’s “Histoire du Tango,” familiar to many jazz aficianados. Then Kunz
did a lovely solo improvisation based on “My Funny Valentine,” capturing the subtle
emotions of that jazz standard. The next composer on the roster, Darius Milhaud 
was Dave Brubeck’s composition teacher to whom Brubeck remained forever indebted.“
Scaramouche, op. 165: Vif, Modere, Braziliera” poses virtuosic challenges to both
saxophone and organ which were deftly met by both performers, and the last, impossibly
difficult movement clearly shows the influence of jazz rhythms on Milhaud. So it
provided a perfect vehicle for a Marsalis workout.

Next, Marsalis, who was very comfortable with the audience, spontaneously spun “
Fly Eagles Fly,” much to the joy of the still-glowing Superbowl winner’s fans. He
followed it with a solo of his original: “Blues for One,” a walking blues in which
he marched around the stage, perhaps a symbolic gesture to the New Orleans marching
bands of his home city. By this time the audience was elated and gave Marsalis and
Kunz a standing ovation, calling the duo back for an encore. Their version of “All
the Things You Are” included the Dizzy Gillespie flip and had all the finest jazz
swing and improvising anyone could ask for. It might even have had Cole Porter smiling
from above.

Crossover and multi-genre music is a global phenomenon today. What singled out this
concert from the crowd were the extraordinary virtuosity and rapport of Marasalis
and Kunz on two infrequently paired instruments (if you forget the Hammond B-3 organ)
and their excellent choice of classical pieces that could be readily appreciated
by jazz fans.

![Image result for Branford Marsalis And Jean-Willy Kunz](https://i0.wp.com/phillyfunguide.
com/uploads/files/648733811179587834-branford-marsalis-press-01-classical-palma-
kolansky-1.jpg?w=640&ssl=1)

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