Buckshot LeFonque

{{infobox musical artist

Frank McComb
50 Styles
Ricky Dacosta
Joey Calderazzo
Kermith Campbell
Russell Gunn
John Touchy
Carl Burnett
Reggie Washington
Reginald Veal
Eric Revis
DJ Apollo
DJ Premier
Rocky Bryant
Mino Cinelu
Black Heart
Buckethead

}}

Buckshot LeFonque was a musical group project led by Branford Marsalis.

The name Buckshot LeFonque was derived by Marsalis from 'Buckshot La Funke',{{cite news |last1=Ginell |first1=Richard S. |title=Buckshot Lefonque, with Branford Marsalis |url=https://variety.com/1994/legit/reviews/buckshot-lefonque-with-branford-marsalis-1200439578/ |access-date=5 November 2024 |work=Variety |issue=October 31 |publisher=Penske Media Corporation |date=1994}} a pseudonym used for contractual reasons by jazz saxophonist, Julian "Cannonball" Adderley, on the album Here Comes Louis Smith (1958).{{cite news |last1=Jackson |first1=Josh |title=Contractual Obligation: Pseudonyms In Jazz |url=https://www.npr.org/2010/01/11/104260186/contractual-obligation-pseudonyms-in-jazz |access-date=5 November 2024 |work=npr music |issue=January 11 |date=2010 |ref=npr}} After playing with Sting, Miles Davis and other artists, Marsalis founded this band to create a new sound by merging classic jazz with rock, pop, R&B and hip-hop influences.

Career

Buckshot LeFonque began primarily as a collaboration between Branford Marsalis and DJ Premier. Marsalis moved from New York to Los Angeles in 1992 to commence work as the Musical Director on the Tonight Show, which had acquired Jay Leno as its new host. Marsalis hosted DJ Premier, as well as Engineer Ben Austin, in his Los Angeles residence, and began composition on the album. He assembled a recording band primarily from the jazz players in the Tonight Show Band, which included Jeff Watts, Robert Hurst, Kenny Kirland, Kevin Eubanks. The band recorded at Sony Studios Los Angeles summer of 1993.{{cite web | url=https://www.branfordmarsalis.com/albums/buckshot-lefonque | title=Buckshot LeFonque | Branford Marsalis }}

Two albums were released, Buckshot LeFonque (1994) (which featured mostly DJ Premier produced tracks) and the follow-up Music Evolution (1997) (which featured mostly Frank McComb on the vocals). Other frequent collaborators were Branford Marsalis' brother, Delfeayo Marsalis, and the rapper, Uptown.

Live band members included:

Branford Marsalis - MC as well as tenor, alto and soprano saxophone
Frank McComb - keyboards and vocals
50 Styles:The Unknown Soldier, Ricky Dacosta - rapper
Joey Calderazzo - keyboards / first tour
Kermith Campbell - keyboards / until McComb was available
Russell Gunn - trumpet
John Touchy - Trombone - first tour
Carl Burnett - acoustic and electric guitar
Reggie Washington - upright and electric bass / first half of first tour
Reginald Veal - upright and electric bass / second half of first tour
Eric Revis - upright and electric bass / second tour
DJ Apollo - turntables "Wheels O Steel"
DJ Premier - turntables, beats, drum programming, production
Rocky Bryant - drums and percussion, beat sample triggering
Mino Cinelu - percussion / first tour
Black Heart the group - rappers / first tour
Buckethead - guitar (studio)

Releases

=Albums=

Buckshot LeFonque (1994)
Music Evolution (1997)

=Singles=

"Breakfast @ Denny's" (1994)
"Some Cow Fonque" (1994)
"No Pain, No Gain" (1995)
"Another Day" (1997)
"Music Evolution" (1997)

=Soundtracks=

"Reality Check" from Clockers (1995)
"Some Cow Fonque (More Tea, Vicar?)" from Men in Black (1997)
"Breakfast @ Denny's (New Version)" from Once in the Life (2000)

References

External links

[https://www.branfordmarsalis.com/ Branford Marsalis' website]
{{cite web|url=http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/buckshot_lefonque/bio.jhtml |website=VH1 |title=Buckshot LeFonque |url-status=usurped |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100201095220/http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/buckshot_lefonque/bio.jhtml |archivedate=1 February 2010}}

Category:American jazz ensembles