Tonight the Bermuda Festival spotlight falls on renowned saxophonist, composer, band leader and recording artist Brandon Marsalis as he and his quartet begin a two-night run at the Ruth Seaton James Centre for the Performing Arts. Both performances begin at 8 p.m.

As a young boy growing up in New Orleans, Mr. Marsalis was nurtured in the musical traditions and sounds indigenous to that region. Jazz and blues are in his blood. He comes from a gifted family headed by his father, distinguished pianist and educator Ellis Marsalis, and including brothers Wynton, Delfeayo and Jason, all of whom are gifted musicians.

Based upon his extensive experience as a Grammy award-winning saxophonist, composer and band leader, Brandon Marsalis recently launched his own label, Marsalis Music, whose focus will be primarily but not exclusively on jazz, with a roster featuring promising new artists as well as himself and other established stylists. His current album, ?Footsteps of our Fathers?, is the new label?s first release.

Twenty years after forming his own quartet, Mr. Marsalis finally feels its sound is recognisably its own.

In terms of his own career, his achievements are extensive. He received two Grammy nominations in the early ?90s, and his album, ?Bloomington? (1993) ws hailed as a landmark in contemporary jazz. He received another Grammy nomination in 1995 for his stirring rendition of ?The Star-Spangled Banner?.

Mr. Marsalis recently completed the score for the film ?Once in the Life? which marked the directorial debut of acclaimed actor Laurence Fishburne, and has also participated in the sound tracks of several Spike Lee films.

In the 1990s he was musical director of The Jay Leno show. His recording career includes 12 jazz albums, two classical albums, and two Buckshot LeFonque pop releases for Sony Music. His final recording for Columbia Records, ?Contemporary Jazz?, hailed as his greatest work to date, earned him yet another Grammy Award.

Mr. Marsalis is also dedicated to changing the future of jazz in the classroom, as a result of which he recently took a part-time appointment on the music faculty at San Francisco State University.

The Branford Marsalis Quartet consists of pianist Joey Calderazzo, bassist/composer Eric Revis, drummer Jeff (Tain) Watts, and of course himself.

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