Sting and Branford Marsalis - If You Love Somebody Set Them Free

Sting's 60th Birthday Show
October 1, 2011
Beacon Theater, New York
Branford Marsalis: Saxophone
Dominic Miller: Guitar
Vinnie Colaiuta: Drums
David Sancious: Keyboards
Rob Mathes: Keyboards
Christian McBride: Double Bass
Rhani Krija: Percussion
Jo Lawry: Backing Vocals (stage center)
Lisa Fischer: Backing Vocals (stage right)
Tabitha Fair: Backing Vocals (stage left)
(available in the free iPad app "Sting 25 Years")

[@eagleplumber6279]

Glad I ran into this version.loving the sax & bass line

[@warjoy1]

I could only say I am very happy that Sting exists!

[@l.christinejones8164]

me too😊

[@phyllishannah7203]

Yes 👏 set them free

[@jerrycamarillophotography5286]

That new bass line is sick !!! Love the constant rewriting of already amazing music. Sting is the master of that.

[@grantk932]

Oh yes he is!! An absolute musical genius!!

[@janfischer66]

wow, what a improvisation dance at the end of the song between marsalis and miller...superb!!!!!,

[@michaelanthony6318]

His voice was exceptional here at 60 as was his interpretiv-ity. As for Police / Sting songs this was never one of my go-to or fave tunes, however the song's title, chorus and verses therein made and still make for one of the most important set of words ever spoken by any human being ever, in my opinion.

[@DragonettiDean]

What a bunch of monsters! Holy smokes...what a performance! I've been listening to Sting for decades and this is the first time I've seen what a solid bass player he is. That boy is steady as a rock!

[@DRourk]

All three members of the police were geniuses on their instruments. So good you didn't even notice, you just liked the songs.

[@TheProhetess]

"save the world 🌎🌍 if you are able, Son the One, all doubt, reign as thieves, Morganstern We Want Peace

[@johncostello6043]

And "if it doesn't come naturally, leave it" -- Al Stewart. Thank you for sharing this, and Happy Birthday Sting!

[@Franzie2105]

Brandford is great. I love this live.

[@kaugustson]

I had no idea Robert Downey could sing! He’s great!

[@louis5555gmail]

This is divine music.

[@wandaclark6054]

I see my girl lisa fisher hey sting what's up love your band and your music I always wanted to see you in concert you people keep rocking it.

[@kevintownsend3721]

Man the way they slowed it down from the original and Bradford Marsalis the sound of that tenor real old school Stan Getz J.Coltrane sound natural big honking tenor sounding real good.

[@nrich5127]

Sting is considered a "heavy weight" in the music business so just look who he has in his band . All top notch players who just love to get on stage with him and let the magic happen.

[@doddsalfa]

Compare to Branford he’s just a lightweight

[@nrich5127]

@@doddsalfa Composition and song writer he surpasses Branford.

[@doddsalfa]

@@nrich5127 as such yes for the masses 😏

[@giorgioebalginelli9396]

Pezzo meraviglioso, esecuzione leggendaria, qui cè latin-soul-jazz ...grande spettacolo e "soli" finali da manuale

[@phyllishannah7203]

Love ❤️ the saxophone not the words exactly... Do let your love 💕 one go... Stay with LOVE 💕 because REAL love is RARELY EVER....

[@MikaelKKarlsson]

Such a perfect tune to slow down and jive up!

[@mikeburton7077]

this and brand new day are my favourites,brilliant !

[@phyllishannah7203]

Frankly, love this song!!! Such energy wow that can’t be duplicated except by the one and only STING!!!! Sting me !!!’

[@slmemoric9740]

prelijepo nice

[@l.christinejones8164]

they are groovin💖💜🧡 yes legends!!

[@s.smithantonia6232]

This is divine music. The director might have forgotten there was a drummer on stage ;-)

[@Francoise743]

Atado en las cadenas que tú no puedes ver O una bestia en una jaula dorada Eso es todo lo que alguna gente quiere ser.....Amoooo Stinggggg

[@jeanmoore4021]

I enjoyed this live I use to play this song all the time. One of my favorites ❤

[@wandaclark6054]

I'm posting this one on my story more comments are needed I've always shared the original video I love them both sound is very good.

[@thefleetcat]

If you love somebody, let them sleep.

[@cliffordbailey8737]

Branford and Dom kill it at the end...

[@AndrewTonneman]

Uh? You really believe so? What I see and hear is joy and soul. The Sting I like most: raw and punky.

[@missv5439]

Its Been My Pleasure 🖤💫💘🖤💫💘🖤

[@missv5439]

🖤🖤Sting 🖤🖤 💘Magical💘 💫 Genius💫

[@bill6698]

So good.

[@judithdaley2445]

ALFACAR54 says this version of this great song says it all .......Jazzed up big time

[@albinahajd4451]

spectacularly

[@kevinhortoncustomstonetile]

tight!!

[@maggieloughran4913]

Fabulous

[@lornaandretti1701]

still this... 2017xxxxx for the music.. Sting. . and everyone. xxxx

[@kimkasprzak8393]

Branford Marsalis is awesome sax player, he and sting gel after years of playing together... Checkout Branfords has trio.....

[@kimkasprzak8393]

JAZZ trio

[@gustavocastro9782]

Vive una vida para volver a verlo

[@MrVALIUMboy]

love that song ♥

[@nancykane8680]

What and jazzy, fun version

[@albinahajd4451]

magnificent

[@bhuvadav]

Che meraviglia.. 😵🤩👍🏽

[@bretterry1347]

YES!

[@sandrasmith7501]

Sting's stank face at 6:31says it all!! This should have more views, that's just all there is to it. So many people missing out on this performance!

[@TheAslakVind]

Richard Branson´s first customer in his Virgin Records was a certain school teacher, which nobody was sure about..

[@chrislemaitre4566]

Super version

[@albinahajd4451]

perfectly

[@albinahajd4451]

awesome

[@saphiregin]

Very, very cool.

[@saphiregin]

Just realized Vinnie is on drums... OOOhhhh man... great!

[@incognitoone]

YEAH!!!

[@albinahajd4451]

marvellously

[@randomelvis3359]

(If you love somebody.....set them free) I just did ...... 👍

[@cristianfuentes8202]

esplendido!

[@mariobrunetta5171]

Una macchina da guerra!!!

[@musicfromtheheart7236]

Just awesome!!!! xoxo

[@DrMochAliShahabMSi]

uueeennnaak bib !

[@michaelamaylander2072]

If You love somebody: go 130 kmh!

[@annamaegold]

💖

[@Milvus23]

David Bowie on backing vocals

[@guycarmeli]

I could listen to this performance forever…… is this concert available anywhere as audio? Couldn’t find it anywhere :(

[@nleite4794]

No, it’s not. There are only a few videos in the iPad app “Sting 25 Years”.

[@nc12pak]

🔥🔥🔥🔥💯🎶🎤🥂

[@mariebenovil3540]

😘😘😘😘😘

[@agumonkey]

they managed to make the groove fatter. kudos

[@juan22984]

Vinnie Colaiuta on drums. The one from Catholic Girls.

[@annamaegold]

🔥🥵🚿

[@christianhafer9819]

Little slower than the original, but still very good.

[@drugocisca5320]

Were is Omar Hakim!!??

[@gmfd007]

Someone likes to be a whipping boy.

[@blackie8083]

I didn't know Sting plays the bass only with his thumb, lol.

[@matthewbrown7722]

Great tune and performance but....I hope the sound engineer hangs his head in shame at the sound he pulled for Branford's sax. Did he use the eq setting: 'honkywind-through-cotton-wool'?...Branford could also be a culprit here though, the mic placement is ordinary.

[@matthewbrown7722]

@Evan Hodge Will do Evan, thanks for the encouragement. You are the wind beneath my cheeks. :)

[@maltycultural7793]

@Evan Hodge 🤣

[@saxophonemechanic5454]

Branford’s sound is perfect mate, raw and real, dark and phat! Maybe you need to go get a Kenny G fix. This is another dimension dude, Branford ain’t gunna sound like cheese sax from the 80’s. As the chorus sings “cheese cheese, fuck the cheese” Right mate?

[@matthewbrown7722]

​@@saxophonemechanic5454 As someone who has loved and listened to Branford intensely since I first heard him in the early 80's, this is NOT what his horn sound is normally like (even given his change from brighter tone with Sting to a more dark tone post. Perhaps you could provide one other recorded (or live) example where his sax has this kazoo tone?

[@saxophonemechanic5454]

@@matthewbrown7722 Matt, it’s dry and real. Hard rubber mpc, sounds perfect dude. You don’t dig, shit, Branford would. Get back to KG son!

[@schmodedo]

Are the lyrics "art imitating life" or "life influencing art" ?

[@gustavocastro9782]

Y sino muere en el intento

[@jeanclaudebossonney7520]

Is it Lisa Fischer in the background singers?

[@nleite4794]

Jean Claude Bossonney Yes, expand video description for full lineup.

[@jeanclaudebossonney7520]

Stupid me

[@eltorpedo67]

Who else is playing bass besides Sting? He's not playing all those notes...

[@igorgalouzo]

Christian McBride

[@classedharmonicacaudry9430]

Maybe, an other mix in studio ;)

[@castalian]

The question should be posed: who is playing the bass here:) I can hear no one else but Mr. Mc Bride :)

[@zixzysm]

Sting is playing, @@castalian. You can see him doing a funky pull/slap at 4:38 for instance, that note is not something that the acoustic bass is doing.

[@castalian]

Sure he does. That was just sarcasm. I wouldn't blame Sting for just holding the bass guitar, pretending to play. I just appreciated the way Christian carries the tune, delivering his typical groove.

[@bbrodriguez3707]

whos on the sax?

[@nleite4794]

BB Rodriguez expand video description

[@stevethomson8193]

Branford Marsalis

[@ukaszswietek9218]

this is far better than the "My songs" version.... Too bad this album is just a poor remix with no fresh ideas at all... You can strip down some songs to make them sound more contemporary but at least come up with something fresh and just cool not just use simple production techniques to make it sound like a cheesy disco ;/ Sting - this time, and maybe first time in history, you really butchered an album :(

[@jgmiller804]

I agree; the My Songs remix album was a dud and unnecessary really. He should of just hand-picked live versions of the songs like this great one and released that.

[@kneelandpray2878]

too slow

[@jopberlin]

Hmmmm……. for me… it’s not cool enough….. sounds very… hmmm… strained