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CPS Hosts Jazz Master Branford Marsalis

April 25, 2017

Revered jazz group, The Branford Marsalis Quartet, will perform “An Evening with Branford Marsalis” at SUNY Potsdam on Thursday, May 4 at 7:30 p.m. in Helen M. Hosmer Concert Hall.

Community Performance Series (CPS) welcomes National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Jazz Master Branford Marsalis for “An Evening with Branford Marsalis” on Thursday, May 4 at 7:30 p.m. in SUNY Potsdam’s Helen M. Hosmer Concert Hall. This is the second Maresca Visiting Artist event hosted by CPS, and made possible through the generous contributions of Dr. G. Michael and Barbara Maresca.

Marsalis is a renowned Grammy Award-winning saxophonist, Tony Award nominee and is one of the most revered instrumentalists of all time. His quartet, The Branford Marsalis Quartet, was formed in 1986 and has been his primary means of expression since that time. The group has been recognized as the standard to which other ensembles of its kind are measured.

The Branford Marsalis Quartet is one of the most innovative and forward-thinking jazz ensembles around today and is composed of Branford Marsalis on saxophone, Joey Calderazzo on piano, Eric Revis on bass and Justin Faulkner on drums.

Charles Gans from the Associated Press exclaims, “Saxophonist Marsalis leads one of the most cohesive, intense small jazz ensembles on the scene today… This album [4 MFs Playin’ Tunes] shows that Marsalis’ quartet hasn’t skipped a beat with the change in the drummer’s chair, effortlessly playing often complex original tunes that are thoroughly modern while referencing past jazz masters.”

“This is going to be an extremely exciting season-ending performance! We are so grateful to Dr. G. Michael and Barbara Maresca for making a performance of this caliber possible in Potsdam,” said Interim Operations Director Jason L. Dominie.

Performance tickets can be purchased by visiting the CPS Box Office, located in the lobby of SUNY Potsdam's new Performing Arts Center, by calling (315) 267-2277 or by visiting www.cpspotsdam.org. Tickets can also be purchased in-person at Brick & Mortar Music in downtown Potsdam. Prices range from $15 to $50, with discounts for seniors and students.

CPS is a college-community partnership presenting world-class performing artists and arts education opportunities in Northern New York. This rich mixture of programming links communities, classrooms and audiences of all ages and preserves access to the performing arts for future generations. For more information, visit www.cpspotsdam.org.

Founded in 1816, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of only three arts campuses in the entire SUNY system. SUNY Potsdam's arts curriculum offers the full palette: music, theatre, dance, fine arts and creative writing. No matter the discipline, people from all backgrounds can find their creative compass at Potsdam, with myriad arts immersion experiences available for both campus and community.

For Media Inquiries

Alexandra Jacobs Wilke, College Communications

news@potsdam.edu (315) 267-2114

Arts & Culture