Branford Marsalis: "The Problem with Jazz"

http://www.seattleweekly.com/2011-09-14/music/branford-marsalis-the-problem-with-jazz/

In an interview with Chris Kornelis, saxophonist Branford Marsalis tries to put the jazz genre into perspective (Seattle Weekly). "Can we really use the word 'important' for something that the majority of the people have never heard?", he asks provocatively. If listeners have to analyze music first in order to understand it, the musicians have a problem. Marsalis also questions the "illusion" of constant reinvention in jazz. He argues against virtuosity for virtuosity's sake and concludes with his personal credo: "My job is to write songs that have emotional meaning to me. Because I believe that if the songs have emotional meaning, that will translate to a larger audience that has the capacity to appreciate instrumental music."