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50 great moments in jazz: Wynton Marsalis goes back to basics
Like Sonny Rollins, Keith Jarrett and the late Miles Davis, Wynton Marsalis is one of a handful of jazz instrumentalists whose name is known beyond the world of the jazz cognoscenti. But unlike the other three, Marsalis has polarised opinion more than any other jazz artist of the last 30 years.
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A consummately skilful trumpeter, an ambitious large-scale composer and a shrewd campaigner for jazz, he has become one of the biggest international stars of a tradition that was already being marginalised by rock and pop-influenced jazz by the time he burst on to the scene as a teenage virtuoso in the early-80s. -
Team Marsalis: All in The Family
Jason Marsalis looks serious as he fiddles with his drum sticks at Manhattan’s Apple Store. He’s sitting at his trap set, paces away from his dad, pianist Ellis, getting ready to hit. But then again, Jason often looks serious. Perhaps the snap he brings to his music demands it ... or perhaps not. As the father and son start to ignite with bassist Jason Stewart, the drummer begins to get his grin on. The spry way he delivers his swing pretty much demands a smile or two. Goading his dad’s glide over the keys, he helps bring an elan to the room. The Marsalises have a way of quickly connecting. Keep reading »
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Now Available The Caboose (Big Train) - Full Score + Parts
The first piece from the Wynton Marsalis Big Band collection is now available for purchase and instant download. The Caboose is the final song from the larger work called Big Train. It’s a traditional big band instrumentation of 2 Alto Sax, 2 Tenor Sax, 1 Baritone Sax, 4 Trumpets, 3 Trombones, Piano, Bass and Drums.
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“Life’s Work: Wynton Marsalis” An Interview for the Harvard Business Review
Wynton Marsalis grew up in a family of New Orleans jazz musicians and received his first trumpet as a sixth birthday present from bandleader Al Hirt. At 14 he debuted with the Louisiana Philharmonic; at 17 he moved to New York, where he attended Juilliard, joined Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, assembled his own band, and began a prolific composing and recording career. In 1987, Marsalis founded Jazz at Lincoln Center, which has grown into the world’s biggest arts organization dedicated to Jazz.
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Speech for The Century Association’s Monthly Meeting of Members
My great uncle was born in 1890. He was an artisan who cut the names and last statements of the deceased into their resting stones. I lived with him for the entirety of my 6th year and visited on many weekends. He taught me so many valuable lessons passed down from ‘old folks sometime long ago’ in stories, songs and folkways. My experiences with him saved me from falling into the generation gap. I return in my mind always to his shotgun house on Gov. Nicholls St. in New Orleans with its lack of hot water, 1930’s appliances, and big super-cooling house fan.
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“Louis” a Silent Movie with Live Accompaniment by Wynton and Jazz Ensemble to Premiere in August
“Louis”, a silent film directed by Dan Pritzker and starring Jackie Earle Haley, Shanti Lowry and Anthony Coleman, will premiere in US cities in late August with live musical accompaniment by Wynton Marsalis, renowned pianist Cecile Licad and a 10-piece all-star jazz ensemble, including Sherman Irby, Victor Goines, Marcus Printup, Ted Nash, Kurt Bacher, Vincent Gardner, Wycliffe Gordon, Dan Nimmer, Carlos Henriquez, Ali Jackson, and conductor Andy Farber. Marsalis will play a score comprised primarily of his own compositions. Licad will play the music of 19th century American composer L.M. Gottschalk.
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At Trumpeter’s Home, the Door’s Always Open
On Thursday evening, Joey Pero walked past Lincoln Center and stepped into the lobby of a luxury high-rise apartment building on West 66th Street and told the doorman, “We’re here to see Wynton.” Keep reading »
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HBO releases trailer for their new series “Treme”, featuring a selection from “Congo Square”
Ever since HBO’s critically acclaimed masterpiece ‘The Wire’ went off the air two years ago, fans have been waiting to see what creators David Simon and Eric Overmyer would come up with next.
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So when word came out that they were going to take on one of the most complicated issues in the country—the effort to rebuild New Orleans in the aftermath of 2005’s devastating Hurricane Katrina—fans and pundits alike were both intrigued by the idea and dismayed at the wait for the project to actually materialize. Could the team from ‘The Wire’ find their magic again? And, if so, could even they do the subject matter justice? -
Video: The Spirit of New Orleans
Click below to watch Wynton’s video tribute to the New Orleans Saints and the Crescent City… “The Spirit of New Orleans”. The video was originally broadcast on CBS during the Super Bowl pre-game show.
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Wynton Marsalis streams video of his tribute to the New Orleans Saints and the Crescent City
Jazz impresario Wynton Marsalis created a special tribute with music and words to The New Orleans Saints and his beloved city of New Orleans. The video will be streamed on Friday, February 12, 2010 at 1pm EST live on his Facebook page and Ustream channel.
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