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Hire Branford Marsalis for Your Event

We Help You Hire, Book and Produce a Branford Marsalis Performance

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Hire Branford Marsalis For Your Event

Celebrity Direct Inc. will help you select, book and hire Branford Marsalis to perform at your corporate event, nonprofit event or private performance.

We are always uniquely positioned as your advocate throughout the hiring process and we won’t let you overpay.

Contact us for availability, price and other production details at:

Tell Us About Your Event

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Branford Marsalis Songs

  • “Jungle Grove”
  • “Solstice”
  • “Here We Go Again”
  • “Jazz Thing”
  • “Pop Top 40”

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Branford Marsalis Bio

Growing up in the rich environment of New Orleans as the oldest son of pianist and educator Ellis Marsalis, Branford was drawn to music along with siblings Wynton, Delfeayo and Jason. His first instrument, the clarinet, gave way to the alto and then the tenor and soprano saxophones when the teenage Branford began working in local bands. A growing fascination with jazz as he entered college gave him the basic tools to obtain his first major jobs, with trumpet legend Clark Terry and alongside Wynton in Art Blakey’s legendary Jazz Messengers.

When the brothers left to form the Wynton Marsalis Quintet, the world of uncompromising acoustic jazz was invigorated. Branford formed his own quartet in 1986 and, with a few minor interruptions in the early years, has sustained the unit as his primary means of expression. Known for the telepathic communication among its uncommonly consistent personnel, its deep book of original music replete with expressive melodies and provocative forms, and an unrivaled spirit in both live and recorded performances, the Branford Marsalis Quartet has long been recognized as the standard to which other ensembles of its kind must be measured.

Branford has not confined his music to the quartet context. In addition to guest turns with a legion of giants including Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Hancock and Sonny Rollins, he has excelled in duets with several major pianists, including his boyhood friend Harry Connick, Jr. and the longtime pianist in his quartet, Joey Calderazzo. Branford’s first solo concert, at San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral, is documented on his latest recording, In My Solitude.

Broadway has also welcomed Branford’s contributions. His initial effort, original music for a revival of August Wilson’s Fences, garnered a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music in a Play and a Tony nomination for Best Original Score Written for the Theater. Branford also provided music for The Mountaintop, starring Samuel L. Jackson and Angela Bassett, and served as musical curator for the 2014 revival of A Raisin in the Sun. Branford’s screen credits include the original music for Mo’ Better Blues and acting roles in School Daze and Throw Momma from the Train.

Branford formed the Marsalis Music label in 2002, and under his direction it has documented his own music, talented new stars such as Miguel Zenon, and un-heralded older masters including one of Branford’s teachers, the late Alvin Batiste. Branford has also shared his knowledge as an educator, forming extended teaching relationships at Michigan State, San Francisco State and North Carolina Central Universities and conducting workshops at sites throughout the United States and the world.

Some might gauge Branford Marsalis’s success by his numerous awards, including three Grammys and (together with his father and brothers) his citation as a Jazz Master by the National Endowment for the Arts. To Branford, however, these are only way stations along what continues to be one of the most fascinating and rewarding journeys in the world of music.

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How do I hire Branford Marsalis for a private event, corporate event, nonprofit gala or convention?

To hire Branford Marsalis for a private or corporate performance, the event buyer must first determine whether the artist is available and interested in the proposed engagement and then submit an offer through the appropriate authorized representative. The offer typically includes the event date and location, type of event, proposed performance format and fee.

Celebrity Direct represents event buyers throughout this process, including availability inquiries, offer strategy, negotiation, contracting, rider review and production coordination.

How much does it cost to hire Branford Marsalis for a private or corporate event?

There is no single published fee to hire Branford Marsalis for a private or corporate event. The performance fee is negotiated for the specific engagement and can vary based on the date, location, event type, performance format, travel requirements, current touring activity and other circumstances surrounding the event.

Celebrity Direct can obtain current availability and pricing from the appropriate artist representative for a specific event.

What total budget should I expect when hiring Branford Marsalis?

The total cost of presenting Branford Marsalis can be higher than the negotiated artist performance fee. Depending on the engagement, additional expenses can include airfare or private aviation, hotels, local transportation, sound, lighting, staging, backline, labor, hospitality and other requirements contained in the artist’s rider.

For this reason, event buyers should evaluate the all-in cost of the performance, not simply the artist fee, before making an offer.

How can I find out if Branford Marsalis is available for my event date?

Branford Marsalis’ availability for a private or corporate event must be confirmed through the appropriate authorized representative. Availability can depend on touring and recording commitments, personal scheduling, event location, travel requirements and whether the artist is interested in the particular engagement.

Celebrity Direct can submit the event details, check availability and determine whether an offer is appropriate.

How do I contact Branford Marsalis’ booking agent about a private performance?

A corporate, nonprofit or private-event buyer generally does not need to locate Branford Marsalis’ booking agent personally. An experienced talent buyer can identify the appropriate authorized representative, present the event professionally and manage the inquiry and offer process on the buyer’s behalf.

Celebrity Direct handles this process for its clients and represents the event buyer rather than the artist.

How do I contact Branford Marsalis’ manager about hiring them for an event?

Artist management is not necessarily the appropriate first contact for negotiating a private performance. Celebrity engagements are generally handled through the artist’s authorized booking representation, management or another designated representative depending on the circumstances.

Celebrity Direct determines the appropriate contact for the proposed engagement and handles the communication and negotiation for the event buyer.

Will Branford Marsalis perform at a corporate event, convention, nonprofit gala or private party?

Whether Branford Marsalis will consider a particular private or corporate performance depends on their availability, the nature and location of the event, the proposed performance, the financial offer and artist approval. Celebrity artists are not simply available for every event at a published price.

A legitimate inquiry should therefore include enough information about the event for the artist’s representatives to evaluate the opportunity.

What information do I need before asking about hiring Branford Marsalis?

Before requesting availability or pricing for Branford Marsalis, an event buyer should ideally know the event date, city and venue, type of event, expected attendance, desired performance format and approximate entertainment budget.

Providing these details allows the artist’s representatives to evaluate the engagement and allows an experienced talent buyer to recommend the most effective offer strategy.

Does the quoted artist fee include travel and production?

Usually, the artist’s performance fee should not be assumed to represent the complete cost of the engagement. Travel, hotels, ground transportation, production, equipment, labor and hospitality requirements may be additional obligations of the buyer depending on the negotiated contract and rider.

The contract and rider should be reviewed before the event buyer determines the final entertainment budget.

Can Celebrity Direct handle the complete Branford Marsalis booking and production process?

Celebrity Direct can represent the event buyer throughout a celebrity entertainment engagement, including determining availability, developing the offer, negotiating with the artist’s authorized representative, reviewing contracts and riders, coordinating production requirements and assisting with the performance through event day.

Unlike an artist’s agent or manager, Celebrity Direct works on the buyer’s side of the transaction, helping the event planner understand the financial, contractual and production obligations involved in presenting celebrity talent.

The Celebrity Booking Process

How Do I Hire a Celebrity for a Corporate or Private Event?
Submit a request

Submit our website form. We’ll ask you to provide a few key event details and budget goals

Consultation call 

We’ll schedule a call to discuss your event goals, offering our expert guidance on expectations

Talent Curation

We Identify a shortlist of available talent, factoring in tour schedules, to ensure accurate recommendations

Narrow it Down

We’ll help you rank and narrow down your top 3 priority picks

The Firm Offer

We craft a formal offer and present it to the Artist

Contract + Deposit

If the offer is accepted, we issue your agreement. If declined, we move to your next preferred choice.

Why Work With Us

Not Just a Booking. A Full-Scale Production.
Booking a celebrity is only part of the equation. We build the entire experience around it.
We handle:
  • Artist negotiation and contracting
  • All production: staging, lighting, sound, technical riders
  • Event logistics and show advancement
  • VIP coordinators, security, and confidentiality
You get:
  • A seasoned producer and booking advisor in one
  • A direct line to the decision-makers behind the artist
  • A one-stop solution from inquiry to showtime
  • Peace of mind knowing every detail is managed

Turn Our Expertise Into Your Dream Event

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
  • We welcome all requests for proposals and we understand that not everyone knows the various costs involved when booking celebrity talent. We know some ideas will not be realistic but surprisingly, others will be.

    The important thing is to let us know your thoughts and desired outcome and we'll do the necessary work for you. You'll receive a response with suggested talent, costs, availability, other similar talent choices and our commitment to stand by our service until the last note is played!

    NOTE: Celebrity Direct Inc. is a celebrity booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle media requests, song license requests, music collaboration requests, donation requests, interview requests and we never provide celebrity contact information.