Jazz Legend Blows the Lid off UPH

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Master of sax Branford Marsalis brought his quartet to the Spa City last Friday night, tearing his way through a set that spanned sonically from melodious to an almost-violent composition by bassist Eric Revis that Marsalis called a “2 a.m. with handcuffs” kind of love song.

The Grammy-winning Marsalis has many claims to fame, including collaborations with the Grateful Dead, Sting, Dave Matthews, Spike Lee, Public Enemy, and Phil Collins. From 1992 to 1995, he was the leader of the “Tonight Show with Jay Leno” band.

But in 2026, at 65 years young, Marsalis took the UPH audience on a journey that spanned from the Depression-era Jimmy McHugh tune “Sunny Side of the Street” (which Marsalis called “a wonderful song of American optimism”); the 1928 hit by the Paul Whiteman Orchestra, “There Ain’t No Sweet Man That’ Worth the Salt of My Tears”; the 1960-recorded John Coltrane tune “26-2”; and 1974’s “Long As You Know You’re Living Yours,” a Keith Jarrett cover. Also performed was an audience-led rendition of “Happy Birthday,” sung in honor of pianist/birthday boy Joey Calderazzo.

A highlight was the encore “Nikaste,” an original composition by bassist Eric Revis. After some on-stage back-and-forth as to whether the song would be played towards the end of the set or during the encore, Marsalis’ quartet erupted with the unconventional love song. “You tell me what kind of ‘love’ you think this is,” Marsalis quipped before his drummer Justin Faulkner practically committed a violent crime upon his kit. Faulkner also displayed his grin-inducing habit of exclaiming “Aaahhh” every time he seemed to be enjoying himself.

This year, as Marsalis pointed out before playing “26-2”, is John Coltrane’s centennial. Saratogians can celebrate 100 years of the pioneering saxophonist at the forthcoming Saratoga Jazz Festival, which will include a salute to Coltrane by the Skidmore Jazz Institute Faculty All-Stars.