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Wynton Marsalis on his animal ballet, teen funk band days, kazoos and JALC’s 31 years
Before Wynton Marsalis mastered all that jazz — and more than 40 years before he debuted “Spaces,” his 2016 Jazz at Lincoln Center “animal ballet” now headed to San Diego — he cut his teeth playing in several New Orleans funk bands in the 1970s. Keep reading »
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Violin star Nicola Benedetti elated to do concerto by jazz great Wynton Marsalis
As one of the world’s most acclaimed young violinists, Nicola Benedetti has earned a stellar reputation for her ability to perform some of the most challenging works in classical music with flawless technical mastery and deep emotional conviction. Keep reading »
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Wynton Marsalis talks music, sports and jazz as a religion
How busy is Wynton Marsalis? So busy that the Pulitzer Prize-winning jazz trumpeter, composer and band leader had to skip the Sept. 22 White House ceremony honoring him and this year’s other National Medal of Arts and Humanities recipients. Instead, he was preparing for that night’s 2016/2017 season-opening concert of Jazz at Lincoln Center, where he has served as artistic director since its inception in 1988 and has collaborated with countless jazz greats, as well as with Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Willie Nelson and Crosby, Stills & Nash. Keep reading »
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Marsalis wields sharp blade in ‘Plantation’
As the most high-profile jazz artist and advocate of the past 25 years, Wynton Marsalis has become more widely quoted than any other jazz performer of his generation. Even so, the Pulitzer Prize-winning composer and trumpeter sounded shocked when recently asked about the distinctive drum sound on “Doin’ (Y)Our Thing,” a standout song on “From the Plantation to the Penitentiary,” his new album.
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‘Congo’ dedicated to New Orleans
Wynton Marsalis has lived in the Big Apple for more than 25 years, but his heart is still in the Big Easy, as befits a New Orleans native whose music is steeped in the rich cultural traditions of his hometown. Keep reading »