-
Jazz as conversation - Marsalis explores instincts, teamwork behind a good performance
Great jazz requires a strange alchemy of instinct and expertise, of empathy and teamwork from its musicians — a fact few know better than famed artist and composer Wynton Marsalis. Jazz is a conversation, but a nuanced, swift, and complicated one, he said. At Sanders Theatre on Wednesday, Marsalis and a band of all-star musicians both discussed and demonstrated how to achieve that balance in “At the Speed of Instinct: Choosing Together to Play and Stay Together,” the fourth of Marsalis’ six-part lecture series at Harvard that began in 2011. Coming just two day’s after Monday’s bombings at the Boston Marathon, the performance provided a collective respite for the campus. Keep reading »
-
Listen up, says Marsalis - Master class at the Boston Arts Academy
As many parents can attest, rousing a child from sleep to make it to the bus stop can be a difficult task. Doing so during a vacation week would seem near impossible. But on Thursday, a group of students from Boston and Cambridge happily rose from bed and made it to class. The reason? Wynton Marsalis was in the house. For an hour and a half the famous trumpeter conducted a master class at the Boston Arts Academy, the city’s only public high school for the visual and performing arts. Keep reading »
-
Wynton Marsalis returns to Harvard for the fourth in his series of lectures-performance
“We will discuss and demonstrate the techniques, concepts, methods, opportunities and objectives that encourage spontaneous, intelligent and cohesive group decision-making in our music. We will also illuminate how each member of the quintet asserts, accompanies and adjusts to balance the freedom of improvisation with the sacrificial demands of finding and maintaining our common rhythm, known as swing.” Keep reading »
-
Wynton Marsalis and Suzan-Lori Parks discussing music and American identity
On February 28, the Public Forum continued its season of Duets devoted to music with an insightful conversation about our songs, our memories, and America’s troubled relationship to its rich artistic heritage. Two of the most thoughtful people in the American arts came together at Joe’s Pub for this Public Forum Duet: Wynton Marsalis (Pulitzer and Grammy-winning composer, musician, author, and Managing and Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center) and Suzan-Lori Parks (Topdog/Underdog, Porgy and Bess, Master Writer Chair of The Public Theater). Keep reading »
-
New book: The First 25 Years Of Jazz at Lincoln Center
New York, NY (November 26, 2012) Jazz at Lincoln Center (JALC) celebrates a milestone 25th anniversary with the launch of In the Spirit of Swing: The First 25 Years of Jazz at Lincoln Center (Chronicle Books), a limited edition keepsake book available for purchase on Amazon.com beginning on November 28. In the Spirit of Swing: The First 25 Years of Jazz at Lincoln Center is comprised of hundreds of gorgeous photographs, including rarely seen shots by JALC Senior Staff Photographer Frank Stewart, and historical documents from JALC’s expansive archives. Narrated by Managing and Artistic Director Wynton Marsalis and with contributions from Albert Murray, Jimmy Heath, Dianne Reeves, Stanley Crouch and past and present members of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, In the Spirit of Swing: The First 25 Years of Jazz at Lincoln Center illustrates the organization’s rich history. Keep reading »
-
Wynton’s interview on the Telegraph: It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got swing
Being with Wynton Marsalis is always an education. He’s happiest when he can enthuse about something, or learn something new from whoever he’s speaking to. Right now, sitting over lunch in a Japanese restaurant in New York, he’s off on the topic of jazz’s Anglo-Celtic roots. “Those folk songs and hymns the slaves learnt from their masters were the real basis, the African element was grafted on top, not the other way round,” he says very firmly, “and this is why African and jazz rhythms developed in a different way. Listen, if you clap a marching rhythm, one-two-three-four, you can fit a swing rhythm over the top, like this.” Keep reading »
-
Live Webcast April 24th! “Ballad of American Arts” at Miami University
Tune in Tuesday, April 24th at 4PM EST as Wynton delivers his acclaimed speech, “The Ballad of American Arts,” as Miami University’s Year of the Arts keynote address. Immediately following his presentation, he will take questions from the audience. Keep reading »
-
15 Wynton Marsalis Solo Transcriptions for Trumpet
Spanning nearly 30 years, this eBook is a comprehensive study of the evolution of Wynton’s style as a soloist. From his debut recording a leader through his latest quintet release, our intent was to capture Wynton’s improvisational skills against a myriad of different backdrops; fast and slow tempos, different grooves and time signatures and, of course, the blues Keep reading »
-
Wynton interviewed by Talk of the Nation and Leonard Lopate Show
Wynton is giving interviews to the main radio and TV, these days, for the presentation of his new book “Moving to Higher Ground: How Jazz Can Change Your Life”. You can listen to his interview online for Talk of the Nation and for The Leonard Lopate Show (also downloadable in MP3). Following, you can enjoy some photos from the book discussion and signing at Barnes & Noble, on September 2, 2008. The book is available online from Amazon.com Wynton at Barnes & Noble to discuss and sign his new book (Photo: Frank Stewart) Wynton at Barnes & Noble to discuss and… Keep reading »
-
“Moving to Higher Ground” available in stores
Wynton’s new book: Moving to Higher Ground: How Jazz Can Change Your Life, is now available in stores. Today, at 7:30 PM, Wynton is going to discuss and sign the book with Geoffrey C. Ward (doors open at 7:15 pm) at Barnes & Noble at Lincoln Triangle, 1972 Broadway @ 66th Street. The event is open to the public. If you need more info, please call 212.595.6859. Keep reading »
Home » News