Branford Marsalis (born August 26, 1960) is an American saxophonist, composer, and bandleader. While primarily known for his work in jazz as the leader of the Branford Marsalis Quartet, he also performs frequently as a soloist with classical ensembles and has led the group Buckshot LeFonque. From 1992 to 1995 he led The Tonight Show Band. Marsalis has numerous musical interests, from jazz, blues and funk to such classical music projects as his Fall 2008 tour with Marsalis Brasilianos. He is a three-time Grammy winner and the head of Marsalis Music, the label he founded in 2002. His brothers Jason Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, and Delfeayo Marsalis are also jazz musicians.
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Biography from TMDB.
- August 26, 1960 (66)
- New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
- Composer and actor
- 16 on Motif · 25 credits in all
Known for
What are Branford Marsalis' films like?
Across their 9 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Society and Morality.
Genres
Their Motif films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Motif score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.
Themes
What they feel like to watch
Ironic 1 · Wry 0 · Earnest 8
Light 1 · Serious 2 · Dark 6
Grounded 8 · Stylized 1 · Heightened 0
Gentle 2 · Charged 4 · Intense 3
Steady 1 · Shifting 8 · Whiplash 0
Straight-faced 7 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 1
A split, not a type: Slow burn 6 · Even-paced 2 · Relentless 1
Casual 3 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 1
A split, not a type: Easy watch 2 · Affecting 1 · Heavy 6
Resolved 8 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 1
Moods and endings
- Happy4
- Bittersweet3
- Tragic2
AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.
Where can I watch Branford Marsalis' films?
As of October 24, 2026, 10 of their 16 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service.
Subscription and free streaming for Branford Marsalis' titles on Motif; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Motif score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.
Filmography
25 credits, 16 with a Motif page; 24 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.
Rustin(2023)
Motif score: 64th percentile of all films
Murders That Matter (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2023)
Motif score: 77th percentile of all films
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom(2020)
Motif score: 84th percentile of all films
Motif score: 60th percentile of all films
The Eye of the Storm(2011)
Motif score: 48th percentile of all filmsweb62.com InterViews (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2005)
Branford Marsalis: A Love Supreme Live In Amsterdam (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2003)
3 A.M. (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2001)
Once in the Life(2000)
Motif score: 22nd percentile of all films
Goosed (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1999)
Eve's Bayou(1997)
Motif score: 87th percentile of all films
Mr. and Mrs. Loving(1996)
Motif score: 79th percentile of all films
Motif score: 30th percentile of all shows
To My Daughter with Love(1994)
Motif score: 71st percentile of all filmsWithout a Pass (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1992)
The Russia House(1990)
Motif score: 49th percentile of all films
Motif score: 90th percentile of all shows
Mo' Better Blues(1990)
Motif score: 71st percentile of all films
Spike & Co.: Do It a Cappella (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1990)
Tales from the Crypt(1989)
Motif score: 89th percentile of all shows
School Daze(1988)
Motif score: 49th percentile of all films
Motif score: 51st percentile of all films
Horn of Plenty (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1986)
Friday Night Videos (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1983)
Career shape
Star power in the 68th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 25 titles from 1983 to 2023; peak year 1987.
Biggest box office
Throw Momma from the Train (1987)
Highest rated
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020)
Most popular right now
Throw Momma from the Train (1987)
Film career
Peak 1987 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.
- 1987Screen debut· Throw Momma from the Train
Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Motif score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on Motif, shown from 5 scored.
Awards
3 major awards from 17 major nominations, 1987–2021.
- Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Music Composition for a Documentary Series or Special (Original Dramatic Score)
- Grammy Award, nominated · Best Improvised Jazz Solo
- Grammy Award, nominated · Best Jazz Instrumental Solo
- Grammy Award, nominated · Best Jazz Instrumental Solo
- Grammy Award, nominated · Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group
- Grammy Award, won · Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group
- Grammy Award, nominated · Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Individual or Group
- Grammy Award, nominated · Best Pop Instrumental Performance
Show 7 earlier yearsShow fewer
- Grammy Award, won · Best Pop Instrumental Performance
- Grammy Award, won · Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Individual or Group
- Grammy Award, nominated · Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Group
- Grammy Award, nominated · Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Soloist
- Grammy Award, nominated · Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Group
- Grammy Award, nominated · Best Jazz Instrumental Performance Soloist (On a Jazz Recording)
- Grammy Award, nominated · Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Group
- Grammy Award, nominated · Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Soloist
- Grammy Award, nominated · Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Soloist
Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.
How do Branford Marsalis' films land?
Their typical Motif film has a Motif score in the 64th percentile, the median of all 13; across their 9 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 70th percentile for acclaim.
- 75th and up6
- 50th to 74th5
- 25th to 49th4
- Below 25th1
Shape of the crowd
8 of their 16 titles are Crowd Pleasers.
- Cult Classic3
- Crowd Pleaser8
- Broadly Agreed2
- Mixed3
Reviewers score the sound and music 67/100 in their films, across 4 reviewed titles; fans 73, detractors 57. The element that speaks to their work as a composer.
Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on Motif; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Motif score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their Motif titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.
Who does Branford Marsalis work with?
People who share at least 2 of Branford Marsalis' Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; George C. Wolfe shares the most, 3.
Directors
- George C. WolfeShared titles: Rustin (2023), Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020), The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (2017)See all 3 shared titles with George C. Wolfe
Actors
- Colman DomingoShared titles: Rustin (2023), Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020)See all 2 shared titles with Colman Domingo
- Glynn TurmanShared titles: Rustin (2023), Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020)See all 2 shared titles with Glynn Turman
- Michael PottsShared titles: Rustin (2023), Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020)See all 2 shared titles with Michael Potts
Cinematographers and editors
- Andrew MondsheinShared titles: Rustin (2023), Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020)See all 2 shared titles with Andrew Mondshein
- Tobias A. SchliesslerShared titles: Rustin (2023), Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020)See all 2 shared titles with Tobias A. Schliessler
