Buckshot LeFonque was a musical group project of Branford Marsalis. The name Buckshot LeFonque was a pseudonym used by jazz saxophonist Julian "Cannonball" Adderley for contractual reasons on the album Here Comes Louis Smith (1958). After playing with Sting, Miles Davis and other artists, Marsalis founded this band to create a new sound by merging classical jazz with rock, pop, R&B and hip-hop influences.
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
