IT seems like everyone who saw Justin Faulkner’s performance with Branford Marsalis out here has told me personally that we have to look out for this kid. Faulkner started that association on his 18th birthday, while still a high school senior.
This week, as a ripe old man of 20, Faulkner spoke to me about his development as a jazz listener and drummer after cutting his teeth on R&B and gospel. Billy Higgins shows up on his list of influences — which I kind of expected — as did Shostakovich, which I didn’t.
My Influences column on Faulkner, who plays this Saturday at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood as part of the Kurt Ronsenwinkel trio, is here.