Watch Branford Marsalis’ Magnificent Collaboration With Joe Russo’s Almost Dead At Newport Jazz

Renowned saxophonist Branford Marsalis was Joe Russo’s Almost Dead’s special guest for their performance on Friday at the Newport Jazz Festival in Newport, Rhode Island. Marsalis sat in with JRAD for the duration of their set at Fort Adams State Park.

Joe Russo’s Almost Dead was initially supposed to be joined at Newport by saxophonist Kamasi Washington, whose appearance at the festival was canceled in the days leading up to the event. Marsalis, who is well acquainted with the music of the Grateful Dead that JRAD focuses on, was tapped to fill in for Washington, swapping one dynamic sax player for another.

Drummer Joe Russo, keyboardist Marco Benevento and guitarists Scott Metzger and Tom Hamilton were joined by bassist Jon Shaw, who frequently plays with JRAD when regular bassist Dave Dreiwitz has conflicts with Ween’s tour schedule. With Marsalis onstage as well, the band kicked into action with one of the Grateful Dead’s most jazz-leaning original compositions, “King Solomon’s Marbles” from the 1975 album Blues For Allah.

The full-throttle start to the set downshifted with the arrival of the Hamilton-sung, “Row Jimmy.” Marsalis and JRAD oozed through the slow-downed “Row Jimmy” as he traded solos with Hamilton and Metzger. The subsequent Metzger-sung “Let It Grow,” led to an intense jam propelled by Russo’s assertive drumming that saw Benevento playing a significant role in the progression that took on elements of reggae.

“Estimated Prophet,” a song Marsalis performed with the Grateful Dead a few times, followed and once again ushered in a noteworthy jam, this time leaning into jazz elements supported by their guest horn player. The set continued with a trip to “Terrapin Station,” and Marsalis masterfully adding to the multi-part song with melodic soprano sax embellishments.

JRAD’s Newport Jazz Festival set ended with another song Marsalis played onstage with the Grateful Dead, the ever-poignant “Brokedown Palace.” The tender ballad included a final impassioned Marsalis solo making for a heartfelt finish to the standout set.

Watch an audience-captured video of JRAD’s Newport Folk Festival set with Branford Marsalis and listen to an audio recording of the set captured by Bootsy Jacobs (starts at track 17) below: