Branford Marsalis Talks Grateful Dead & Jerry Garcia In 1996 Interview

Saxophonist Branford Marsalis first sat-in with the Grateful Dead on March 29, 1990 at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York and would go on to perform with the band a number of times over the next few years ahead of Jerry Garcia’s death in 1995. A portion of a talk show reportedly from 1996 in which Branford talks about the Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia recently surfaced on YouTube.

Marsalis first starts talking with a panel that includes noted music scribe Anthony DeCurtis about the influence jazz had on the music of the Grateful Dead. The saxophonist discusses Jerry Garcia’s advanced harmonic playing and the way he improvises. Branford says while it was joy a play with Garcia it was even more of a joy to listen to him. One of the best parts comes when Marsalis is asked if “it was great every night” and Branford shakes his head and explains “some nights it just implodes, it just crashes and is a ball of confusion.” Marsalis even breaks out an impression of Garcia at one point.

The interview spans ten minutes and is well worth the time investment to hear Branford discuss the Dead’s career, his connection with Deadheads, connecting with Jerry and much more: