Brandon Woody Announces Blue Note Debut. Branford Marsalis too.

Trumpeter Brandon Woody is set to release his Blue Note debut “For The Love Of It All” on May 9th. The Baltimore-based artist’s six original tracks will be available on colored vinyl, black vinyl, CD, and all digital platforms. The first single off the album, “Real Love, Pt.1”, out since yesterday, sounds exceptionally promising. Brandon is accompanied on the album by his band Upendo: Troy Long on piano, organ, and Rhodes, Michael Saunders on bass, and Quincy Phillips on drums. Singer Imani-Grace guests on one track and Vittorio Stropoli on aux synths on another.

In other Blue Note news, saxophonist Branford Marsalis makes his debut for the label on March 28th with “Belonging”, a full album interpretation of Keith Jarrett’s 1974 ECM album of the same name. It will be Branford’s first album in six years and features his longstanding quartet with Joey Calderazzo on piano, Eric Revis on bass, and Justin Faulkner on drums. The first track “Spiral Dance” is out since the end of January. “Belonging” will also come out on vinyl in addition to all other formats.