-
Wynton Marsalis Imagines Buddy Bolden’s Jazz On-Screen: ‘He Was Bringing Fire’
As much as jazz could possibly have an inventor, that person would be Charles “Buddy” Bolden. But although he is celebrated as a seminal figure in jazz at the turn of the 20th century, very little is actually known about the African-American cornetist and composer’s life. There are no existing recordings of Bolden, who spent more than 20 years in an asylum before his death in 1931. Keep reading »
-
Director Dan Pritzker Talks About The Long-Awaited Musical Film ‘Bolden’
Coming out this week from Abramorama is the biopic Bolden, who created improvisation in New Orleans in the early 1900’s and pioneered the musical art form we now call JAZZ!!! Directed by Dan Pritzker from a script written by Pritzker and David N. Rothschild, the film stars Gary Carr, Erik LaRay Harvey, Yaya DaCosta, Reno Wilson, Karimah Westbrook, JoNell Kennedy, Robert Ri’chard, Serena Reeder with Michael Rooker and Ian McShane. Keep reading »
-
Van Morrison, Wynton Marsalis attended ‘Bolden’ screening after closing Jazz Fest on Sunday
Jazz Fest headliners Van Morrison and Wynton Marsalis somehow evaded post-fest traffic Sunday night to attend a Canal Place screening of “Bolden,” the new film about the early 20th-century New Orleans cornet player who is generally considered to be the first true jazz musician. Keep reading »
-
Wynton Marsalis on 12 Essential Jazz Recordings
“It’s self-explanatory,” Wynton Marsalis says, pointing toward the papers in front of him. “Basically, if you look at what I wrote, that says everything you need to know.” The trumpeter had entered only about 30 seconds before, walking into a small conference room at the New York offices of Jazz at Lincoln Center. Keep reading »
-
This festival is setting up for four days of jazz — and Wynton Marsalis is all over it
No one’s going to mistake Charlotte for New Orleans. For one thing, the Big Easy has open container laws that make it legal to bar hop with a beer in your hand. But for one weekend each spring since 2015, Blumenthal Performing Arts has turned Uptown into a jazz destination. Keep reading »
-
How Wynton Marsalis helped resurrect the musical voice of Buddy Bolden
For Dan Pritzker, the decision was a no-brainer. He wanted to make a movie about New Orleans cornetist Buddy Bolden, the mysterious, nearly mythological figure credited with having pioneered the improvisational music form that would become jazz, and he needed someone to provide the “voice” of Bolden’s horn. Keep reading »
-
Wynton Marsalis on Bringing the Story of Jazz Originator Buddy Bolden to the Big Screen
Like many music fans, even now, Wynton Marsalis did not grow up familiar with the Charles “Buddy” Bolden story. But the dramatic tale of the singing cornetist—a key figure and to some the inventor of jazz—eventually became an inspiration that made Marsalis the perfect choice to helm the music for Bolden, the upcoming biopic based on his life. Keep reading »
-
JALC Gala Traverses the History of Jazz
Jazz at Lincoln Center felt more like jazz at Preservation Hall during the April 17 JALC concert and gala dinner. Keep reading »
-
The Dignity of His Sound: Wynton Marsalis Talks About The Buddy Bolden Movie
Wynton Marsalis describes the movie Bolden, which is directed by Daniel Pritzker, and will be released on May 3, as a “mythical account” of New Orleans cornetist Buddy Bolden. Keep reading »
-
Wynton Marsalis performs in tribute to Ellis Marsalis at Jazz Fest
Last week, Ellis Marsalis Jr. was honored in New York at the gala for Jazz at Lincoln Center, which was founded three decades ago by his son Wynton Marsalis. Keep reading »