Now's the Time: Branford Marsalis

Although many critics view Branford Marsalis' Buckshot LeFonque endeavor as the low point of his career, I've always admired the mid-90s experiment. It may have been better on paper than in practice, but Marsalis deserves credit for even taking such a risk. This piece, a reworking of "Donna Lee," is an attempt to find the common ground between jazz, blues, funk and hip hop. Marsalis performs with his acoustic quartet Saturday, November 6, at the Gem Theater.