“Marsalis performs and speaks with a combination of fire and tenderness” – Pop Matters
“[Reeves is] one of the standout voices of our age” – NPR
September 2026 marks the centennial of John Coltrane’s birth, one of jazz’s most transcendent voices. To honor his enduring legacy, the Branford Marsalis Quartet and Dianne Reeves will record a tribute album which revisits Coltrane’s seminal 1963 collaboration with vocalist Johnny Hartman. Here, the album will include all the tracks from the original Coltrane/Hartman recording, alongside a selection of additional Coltrane classics.
Saxophonist Branford Marsalis stands as one of the most influential and revered figures in contemporary music. Marsalis is a NEA Jazz master, three-time Grammy Award winner, and Tony and Emmy Award nominee. Furthermore, he performs concertos with symphony orchestras and sits in with members of the Grateful Dead. However, the core of his musical universe remains the Branford Marsalis Quartet. After more than three decades with minimal personnel changes, critics and audiences revere this celebrated ensemble for its uncompromising interpretations. Additionally, they cover a kaleidoscopic range of both original compositions and jazz and popular classics.
Five-time Grammy winner Dianne Reeves is the world’s pre-eminent jazz vocalist. There, Reeves is revered for her virtuosity, improvisational prowess and unique jazz and R&B stylings. Reeves won the Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Performance for three consecutive recordings — a Grammy first in any vocal category. George Clooney’s award-winning film Goodnight and Good Luck featured Reeves, and she received a Grammy for her contribution.
Reeves has received honorary doctorates from DePaul University, the Berklee College of Music and The Juilliard School. Also, she was named a NEA Jazz Master — the highest jazz honor in the United States. Here, this collaboration with the Branford Marsalis Quartet will be Reeves’ first album in twelve years.
Recommended for fans of John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman, Cassandra Wilson, Chris Potter and Lizz Wright.
