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Philadelphia Orchestra premieres Wynton Marsalis’s newest — a tuba concerto
Four words that were never likely to be found together are these: Wynton Marsalis Tuba Concerto. But there they are on the Philadelphia Orchestra’s weekend subscription concerts, a world-premiere co-commission for an unusual soloist by the great jazz trumpeter/composer Keep reading »
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Wynton Marsalis symphony at Philadelphia Orchestra an aerobic workout that inspired fight and flight
Such was the terse introduction by guest conductor Cristian Macelaru at the Philadelphia Orchestra’s Saturday outing with Wynton Marsalis’ Blues Symphony. More couldn’t credibly be said prior to the rambunctious, seven-movement, hour-long, high-traffic, multi-genre, multi-everything monster of a symphony that could well have devoured the Kimmel Center and the rest of Philadelphia along with it. Keep reading »
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Philadelphia Orchestra finds its groove in Wynton Marsalis concerto
Thursday night, in the middle of Nicola Benedetti’s playing a cadenza in a violin concerto with the Philadelphia Orchestra, a man walked through the ensemble to a spot just inches from the violinist and started playing drums. Keep reading »
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How Wynton Marsalis is like Mozart - and why his concerto in Philly is for violin, not trumpet
Supposedly running 50 minutes at its 2015 London premiere, the concerto would seem to be one of the longest pieces of its kind. Now that it’s arriving for Philadelphia Orchestra concerts Thursday through Saturday at the Kimmel Center, the piece has a more Brahmsian length of 40 minutes. Rest assured, though, this concerto doesn’t sound like Brahms. Keep reading »
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Wynton Marsalis honored at Marian Anderson Awards at the Kimmel Center
The Kimmel Center was aglow for the Marian Anderson awards on Tuesday evening with stars including honoree Wynton Marsalis, TV journalist Soledad O’Brien as master of ceremonies, gospel singer Kim Burrell, and Grammy-winning vocalist Lalah Hathaway. Attendees donned regal dresses and dapper suits to honor historic contralto Anderson and jazz legend Marsalis. Keep reading »
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The leading man of jazz
In 1994, when Wynton Marsalis was only six years into his tenure as artistic director of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Ed Bradley did a 60 Minutes profile on the New Orleans jazz man. “Not long ago, people were saying jazz was dead and nobody wanted to hear it anymore,” Bradley said, “but then Marsalis and his trumpet came along and breathed new life into the music.” Keep reading »
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Wynton Marsalis awarded 2015 Marian Anderson Award
Mayor Nutter announced Monday that Wynton Marsalis, the jazz and classical musician, composer, and arts advocate, is the recipient of the 2015 Marian Anderson Award. Keep reading »
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Wynton Marsalis: Enhancing the spirit
Near the end of his first set Wednesday at the Zellerbach Theatre, after his sextet had restated the melody of Thelonious Monk’s “Four in One” and was ready to send it home, Wynton Marsalis stepped up to the microphone looking like he had some unfinished business. Keep reading »
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Marsalis: Mastering Two Modes
Considering the impact trumpeter Wynton Marsalis had on the music scene when he was so young, it might be assumed that he started playing the instrument at about the age of, oh, 2 or 3 maybe. Keep reading »
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Wynton Marsalis, His Sextet And Some Unorthodox Blues
Last night Wynton Marsalis played the blues. It wasn’t your down-home, garden variety. Marsalis, a jazzman who went to the Juilliard School of Music, brought to bear his massive classical chops on an eclectic set of material that ranged from Strayhorn to Schoenberg. Keep reading »