Branford Marsalis and his quartet played to a restless crowd at the Pabst Theater on Thursday, Oct. 12. Marsalis was late because of a false weather report of a blizzard in Milwaukee and was stranded in an airport in Roanoke, Va. The show started an hour late for the 750 eager patrons.

Marsalis began by explaining the circumstances which led to their late arrival, and then poked fun at the fact that the Milwaukee Brewers were not in the playoffs, at which one antsy patron bellowed, “Just play some music!” Marsalis replied by saying, “You must be a smart guy because why else would I be here?”

The quartet ripped into the opening track “Jack Baker” with a level of intensity that was carried throughout the entire show. There was a sense that Marsalis and group have stepped into the realm of legend as the impressionistic ballads and Marsalis’ superb tenor sax swayed the crowd.

Pianist Joey Calderazzo, bassist Eric Revis and drummer Jeff (Tain) Watts joined Marsalis in a compelling string of tunes such as “Blackzilla” (produced by drummer Jeff Tain), “Hope,” “Fate” and the dark “Sir Roderick Aloof.” As a tribute to his hometown, New Orleans, Marsalis performed a rendition of the song “Bourbon Street Blues” to the crowds’ delight.

At the conclusion of the evening, Marsalis revealed another original ballad, “Eternal,” which he composed for his wife. This sultry tune was a collaboration between Marsalis and Calderazzo and was performed by the quartet.

Marsalis will surely be remembered as one of the tenor giants of jazz such as Johnny Griffin, Coltrane and Rollins, with his own brand of abstract rhythmic style that sets him apart from his contemporaries.

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