Branford Marsalis and Dianne Reeves

Branford Marsalis is an American Jazz Saxophonist from the deep south of the USA. He is an alumnus of the Berklee School of Music, and from then on right up until now, had the most amazing career from his graduation right up until the present day being such a recognized and respected musician.

As a musician, I am blown away by the virtuosity and technical ability that he showcases when he performs live. He performs a song called “Peace” which has some fantastic moments, but is essentially lead by a catchy hook on the saxophone, beautifully constructed in a way that you would be singing it for days. After playing the melody a couple of times, the variations come in as the song goes on, but the variations are even played on all of the other instruments. It gradually turns into a jam, made up of some of the most interesting solos I’ve heard, almost as though they’re too well constructed to have been improvised on the spot. That’s Jazz music for you! Hats off to you, Brandford Marsalis!

Dianne Reeves should need no introduction. Her long-established career has positioned herself as one of the most prominent and successful jazz singers of her time, with it not being uncommon to have the assertion that she is the 'greatest jazz singer alive.' Her extraordinary talent is best realised through her live performance, which brings her voice alive, displaying her virtuosity for the audience. Her performance at Boettcher Concert Hall in Denver was a spectacular, rousing set that was wowing on a number of levels. Her voice was so dynamic and full it filled the large concert hall with ease. The band were equally impressive, although more so when fewer instruments played as this allowed for greater clarity and their talent to shine through. The highlight was her deeply emotive rendition of Billie Holliday's "Don't Explain" which saw her come to the front of the stage and deliver a stripped-back individual performance that was spine-tingling. As well as jazz standards, Reeves also fitted in some pop songs, such as Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams." It was a memorable, timeless performance that gave further ammunition to the claim that there is no other jazz singer comparable to Reeves who is performing today. Simply stunning.