Passing the Baton : Branford Marsalis Sets New Tone for ‘Tonight’

If anything is predictable about the role that Branford Marsalis will play when he and Jay Leno take up residence Monday on “The Tonight Show,” it is this: He will not be “the new Doc Severinsen.”

The program’s new 31-year-old musical director is Severinsen’s junior by 33 years. Severinsen’s jazz solos, and the excellent music played by his big band, often reflect the values of earlier decades. Marsalis, a master of the tenor and soprano saxophones, plays in a state-of-the-art style, and will lead a looser, eight-piece group.

There’s more to it. Because Ed McMahon is not being replaced, chances are that many of Leno’s quips and comments will bounce off Marsalis, an eloquent and charismatic young charmer who has shown an ability to fit into any situation.

“Doc and I are from different times and different places,” he said the other day. “I respect him and what he’s done in his career. No, I’ve never met him. Naturally I harbor no ill will against him, and I hope he doesn’t against me, but we have a new regime coming in.”

To Ellis Marsalis, long known as New Orleans’ most distinguished jazz educator (his proteges include Harry Connick Jr.), Branford is “No. 1 son.” The reference is purely chronological, since the senior Marsalis has brought up his six sons in an atmosphere Branford describes as “free of nepotism, and non-competitive. My parents never had a favorite son. There was never any of this ‘Why can’t you be like your brother?’ stuff. They dealt with every kid on the kid’s terms.”

The “kids” in this most famous of all jazz families include Wynton, the all-purpose trumpeter who at 30 has unnumbered awards to his credit for jazz and classical recordings; Delfeayo, 26, best known as an album producer but also a gifted trombonist, whose first CD has just been released; and Jason, who at 14 is rising fast (he plays drums on Delfeayo’s album).

More than any of his siblings, Branford has known the pleasures of career diversity. A commanding instrumentalist and an accomplished composer, he studied with his father, then in Boston at the Berklee College. He played in the bands of Art Blakey, Lionel Hampton and Clark Terry, spent three years in Wynton’s quintet, recorded with the Duke Ellington Orchestra and with Miles Davis. Branford toured with Herbie Hancock and made a classical album, “Romances for Saxophone,” with an English chamber group. He has had acting roles in several movies (“Throw Momma From the Train,” “School Daze”), composed original works for the Spike Lee film “Mo Better Blues” and hosted a series of shows for National Public Radio during Black History Month.

Perhaps most notoriously, he toured with Sting in 1985 and ’88. “Some people thought I sold out by going with a band,” he says, “but all Sting wanted was to have a band that could interpret his music, and it was fun to do. Yeah, I had a hard time with my parents about going with Sting, but they understand me better now. In fact, the second time I joined Sting, my dad actually went to the show. It just took him a while, but my parents are definitely hipper than most parents. My dad is coming out here to catch my first ‘Tonight Show.’ ”

Marsalis says he accepted the “Tonight” job because it represents a great opportunity, stability, tremendous exposure and a chance to develop his craft.

“Instead of traveling constantly, I’ll be able to really work on my writing and playing. I don’t just want to relax and rest on my laurels,” he said. “I have a lot of friends who are actors, so I’ll also do whatever I can to become a better actor before I take any more movie roles.”

This new band is essentially an extension of the group Marsalis has led on tour. Pianist Kenny Kirkland worked alongside him in Wynton’s band and with Sting; bassist Bob Hurst and drummer Jeff (Tain) Watts also have been regulars with Wynton and later with Branford. The guitarist, Kevin Eubanks, has a similar background.

“We went to Berklee together and played in Wynton’s group,” Marsalis said. “Kevin is important, because he’s not only a great guitarist but he’s a strong composer, and I won’t be doing all the writing. I expect other people in the band to contribute.”

Sharing the front line will be Sal Marquez, a trumpeter whose work on the soundtrack of “The Fabulous Baker Boys” made the impression that landed him the job, and Matt Finders, a trombonist. Marsalis: “Matt worked with me in the Clark Terry band, and he’s been gigging in New York with a jazz repertory orchestra. He has a beautiful sound on the horn.”

Completing the octet will be a percussionist, Vicki Randle. “I heard her when she was with Kenny Loggins; she played with George Benson, and she can do it all,” he said.

And doing it all is just what’s needed, he said, noting that the band will be required to play with the show’s musical guests, who will “represent every kind of music: Shanice Wilson, the pop singer; the Black Crowes, a rock-type band; Curtis Stigers, this fusion sax player, and Kathleen Battle, the operatic singer who did that great TV show with Wynton recently. They’ll all be on in the first week. And there are Latin bands like Tito Puente booked, and jazz groups like the Harper Brothers and Roy Hargrove; in fact, a lot of people who have never been on ‘The Tonight Show.’ ”

Like the sidemen in the Severinsen band, Marsalis’ musicians, most of whom have their own records out, or due out soon, will be heard around Los Angeles leading small groups. Marsalis will play jobs with a quartet or quintet, but not until he has settled comfortably into the new life.

Separated from his wife, Tess (they have a 6-year-old son), Marsalis has moved to a house in Beverly Hills. “I like it here. I love the weather. The food is fantastic.”

“I expect to take an active part in the development of the show. I’ve made suggestions about who I think will make good guests, and we’ve had some very productive meetings. I think it’s going to be a very dramatic departure in terms of TV talk-show guests, because the philosophy is no longer just ‘Are they famous?’ or ‘Who are they?’ but rather ‘Are they good?’ In general, it seems as though Jay Leno and I think alike.”

If the plans for the new program work out along the lines Marsalis expects, the reaction is more likely to be subjective than comparative.

“Everyone with a brain, people who know anything about music,” he said, “won’t try to compare us--I mean, in terms of the transition from Doc to me. It’s regrettable that people see this as a competitive situation, but Doc will go ahead with his own plans and I’ll stay with mine.

“Moreover, if and when we are ever replaced, I doubt that we’ll be angry; because whatever happens, I have a career. As great as this job is, it doesn’t represent the ultimate in my musical ambitions.”