| Crazy People Music | |
| Type: | Album |
| Artist: | Branford Marsalis |
| Cover: | Branford marsalis crazy people music.jpg |
| Released: | July 1990 |
| Recorded: | January 10, February 18 & March 1, 1990 |
| Genre: | Jazz |
| Length: | 1:04:32 |
| Label: | Sony Music |
| Producer: | Dr. George Butler (executive producer); Delfeayo Marsalis |
| Prev Title: | Mo' Better Blues |
| Prev Year: | 1990 |
| Next Title: | The Beautyful Ones are Not Yet Born |
| Next Year: | 1991 |
Crazy People Music is a jazz album featuring the Branford Marsalis Quartet, led by saxophonist Branford Marsalis and featuring Kenny Kirkland, Jeff "Tain" Watts, and Robert Hurst. It was recorded January 10, February 18, and March 1, 1990 at RCA Studios in New York, New York.[1] It peaked at number 3 on the Top Jazz Albums chart.[2] It was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1990 for Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Soloist.[3]
Scott Yanow notes in his AllMusic review, "It's an impressive group… ['The Ballad of Chet Kincaid'] would catch on to a general audience, but on the others Marsalis is heard throughout in prime form, sounding more original and pushing himself."[4]
Several critics point to Crazy People Music as a turning point for Marsalis. Nate Chinen of Jazz Times called the album the "first major statement" of Marsalis's new quartet,[5] and Paul Wells wrote in 2014 that the album was when "the band's vision coalesced."[6] Marsalis himself notes, "Crazy People Music was kind of a breakthrough record. We were starting to pull away from the typical post-bop stuff. We weren't really free of it yet…"[7]