| Renaissance | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | Branford Marsalis |
| Cover: | Renaissance (Branford Marsalis album).jpg |
| Released: | 1987 |
| Genre: | Jazz |
| Label: | Columbia |
| Producer: | Delfeayo Marsalis |
| Prev Title: | Royal Garden Blues |
| Prev Year: | 1986 |
| Next Title: | Random Abstract |
| Next Year: | 1988 |
Renaissance is an album by the American musician Branford Marsalis, released in 1987.[1] [2] It peaked at No. 4 on Billboards Traditional Jazz Albums chart.[3] Marsalis supported the album with a North American tour.[4]
The album was produced by Delfeayo Marsalis. Branford Marsalis played tenor and soprano saxophones.[5] Tony Williams played drums; Bob Hurst played bass. "St. Thomas" is a version of the Sonny Rollins song performed solo by Marsalis. "The Peacocks" was written by Jimmy Rowles; Herbie Hancock played piano on the track. "Lament" was composed by J. J. Johnson.[6]
The Washington Post praised the "gorgeous arrangement of Jimmy Rowles' 'The Peacocks', which deftly combines Marsalis' sinuous soprano sax and pianist Herbie Hancock's impressionistic colors."[7] The St. Petersburg Times deemed Renaissance "a straight-ahead, acoustic jazz album," writing that "Branford is perhaps a bit more facile on soprano but his tenor playing is hearty and nimble."[8] The Globe and Mail determined that "the saxophonist's melodic, laid-back approach gives his solos a graceful, coasting quality and the casualness is endearing."[9] The Windsor Star stated that "Marsalis and pianist Kenny Kirkland keep a firm grip on developing solos in shapely fashion, a highstepping but sinewy dance."