The ‘Evolution’ of Branford Marsalis’ Buckshot Continues

Branford Marsalis, as quixotic as ever, has another new album with his stylistically indefinable band, Buckshot LeFonque. (For the record, the name traces to a nickname once used by alto saxophonist Cannonball Adderley.) The new album, “Music Evolution,” once again blends elements of funk, pop, rap, hip-hop and jazz in an uncategorizable melting pot.

Marsalis, in town recently as part of a whirlwind promotional tour, simply shrugged when asked about the array of material on the album--far more diverse than on the Buckshot debut release.

“So, what else is new?” he said. “My records have always been all over the place, except maybe for ‘The Dark Keys,’ from the ‘40s to the ‘60s--whatever. That’s just the way I like to make records.”

And, for Marsalis, Buckshot is a band with the sort of diversity built into it that can express all the many, far-ranging aspects of his fertile musical imagination.

“Look at it this way,” the saxophonist said, “I don’t have the time or the economic wherewithal to have a hip-hop-influenced band, a rock-’n’-roll-influenced band, an eclectic jazz funk band. I mean, how many bands am I supposed to have? So if I have a band, and I do, that has all those tools at my disposal, why not use them all?”

But Marsalis, ever doubtful of the record business’ tendency to pigeonhole and over-categorize, continues to worry about whether his audience will really have an opportunity to sample the album.

“I really think,” he said, “that if we could get people to listen to this record, that they’d like it. But too many of the traditional avenues are closed to us because we don’t play by the rules. And the music business doesn’t know where to categorize people who don’t play by the rules.”

Marsalis’ first album with the group, “Buckshot LeFonque,” was far and away his most commercially successful recording. “Music Evolution,” released April 1, has thus far had a relatively modest beginning in terms of sales. However, according to Marsalis’ publicity agent, the album last week was the No. 3 most added in all categories at college radio stations around the country.

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Latin Jazz: Tito Puente has been a pacesetter not just in jazz, but also in Afro Cuban music and salsa, as a percussionist, keyboardist and bandleader. His 50th anniversary in the music business--Puente turned 74 in April--is being celebrated with the release of “Fifty Years of Swing” (RMM Records), a three-CD boxed set including, appropriately, 50 tracks. The collection is a broad overview of Puente’s work, including performances with Cal Tjader, Machito, Lionel Hampton, Woody Herman and James Moody, among many others.

Percussionist Pete Escovedo, who has performed with Puente and a similarly impressive lineup of jazz artists, and spent three years with the rock group Santana, is one of the headliners for the Playboy Jazz in Central Park program at the Old Pasadena Summer Fest on May 25. Escovedo’s latest album, “E Street” (Concord Vista), includes several of his children-- including daughter Sheila E., a pop singer and percussionist.

“The fact that my kids play,” Escovedo says, “is probably the most rewarding and proudest thing in my life. I try to include the kids on most of my CDs, because the Escovedo sound is the Escovedo family, and that’s what makes it all worthwhile for me.”

And, as long as we’re talking about the role of music in families, if Mom is a Latin jazz fan, there’s no better place to take her for Mother’s Day brunch than Catalina Bar & Grill. Bobby Matos, one of the Southland’s most talented and entertaining Latin jazz artists, makes a special Mother’s Day appearance at the venue Sunday with his Afro Cuban Jazz Ensemble, starting at noon.

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Benefit: Celebrate Jazz! holds its third annual event Wednesday, a dinner and silent auction to benefit the City Scholars Foundation. The foundation mobilizes and directs resources to support after-school enrichment programs that encourage achievement among underserved and/or economically disadvantaged students. Buddy Collette and Barbara Morrison will perform, and the program will include a special tribute to David Abell, president of the Los Angeles Jazz Society. Information: (213) 627-1792.

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On Record: The Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach--once one of West Coast jazz’s most famous venues--continues to function as a jazz record swap meet every weekend. On Saturdays and Sundays, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., collectors and fans get together to trade, sell or exchange LPs, CDs and jazz memorabilia, often with some first-rate, free live jazz. Information: (310) 542-3431.

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Free Music: The two-trumpet quartet of Clay Jenkins and Dave Scott performs in the L.A. County Museum of Art’s free jazz series tonight at 5:30. (213) 857-6000.