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Wynton Marsalis
Wynton Marsalis is an internationally acclaimed musician, composer, bandleader, educator and a leading advocate of American culture. He is the world’s first jazz artist to perform and compose across the full jazz spectrum from its New Orleans roots to bebop to modern jazz. By creating and performing an expansive range of brilliant new music for quartets to big bands, chamber music ensembles to symphony orchestras, tap dance to ballet, Wynton has expanded the vocabulary for jazz and created a vital body of work that places him among the world’s finest musicians and composers.
Early Years
Wynton was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on October 18, 1961, to Ellis and Dolores Marsalis, the second of six sons. At an early age he exhibited a superior aptitude for music and a desire to participate in American culture. At age eight Wynton performed traditional New Orleans music in the Fairview Baptist Church band led by legendary banjoist Danny Barker, and at 14 he performed with the New Orleans Philharmonic. During high school Wynton performed with the New Orleans Symphony Brass Quintet, New Orleans Community Concert Band, New Orleans Youth Orchestra, New Orleans Symphony, various jazz bands and with the popular local funk band, the Creators.
At age 17 Wynton became the youngest musician ever to be admitted to Tanglewood’s Berkshire Music Center. Despite his youth, he was awarded the school’s prestigious Harvey Shapiro Award for outstanding brass student. Wynton moved to New York City to attend Juilliard in 1979. When he began to pick up gigs around town, the grapevine began to buzz. In 1980 Wynton seized the opportunity to join the Jazz Messengers to study under master drummer and bandleader Art Blakey. It was from Blakey that Wynton acquired his concept for bandleading and for bringing intensity to each and every performance. In the years to follow Wynton performed with Sarah Vaughan, Dizzy Gillespie, Sweets Edison, Clark Terry, Sonny Rollins, Ron Carter, Herbie Hancock, Tony Williams and countless other jazz legends.
Wynton assembled his own band in 1981 and hit the road, performing over 120 concerts every year for 15 consecutive years. With the power of his superior musicianship, the infectious sound of his swinging bands and an exhaustive series of performances and music workshops, Marsalis rekindled widespread interest in jazz throughout the world. Wynton embraced the jazz lineage to garner recognition for the older generation of overlooked jazz musicians and prompted the re-issue of jazz catalog by record companies worldwide.
He also inspired a renaissance that attracted a new generation of fine young talent to jazz.
A look at the more distinguished jazz musicians of today reveals numerous students of Marsalis’ workshops: James Carter, Christian McBride, Roy Hargrove, Harry Connick Jr., Nicholas Payton, Eric Reed and Eric Lewis, to name a few.
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Wynton Marsalis, Yilian Cañizares, Peggy Lee, Darren Johnston & More
by Ludovico Granvassu
Ambition does not have to be an expression of self-centeredness. It may be, and should be, the pursuit of high achievements, and the realization of broad and innovative visions. This playlist is bursting at the seams with music driven by the good kind of ambition... Happy listening! Playlist Ben Allison Mondo Jazz Theme (feat. Ted Nash & Pyeng Threadgill)" 0:00 Yilian Cañizares Oxun" Habana--Bahia (Planeta) 0:16 Host talks 4:29 David Virelles Tiempos" Carta (Intakt) 6:16 Host ...
Continue ReadingThe Wynton Marsalis Septet at The Sandler Center for the Performing Arts
by Mark Robbins
The Sandler Center for the Performing Arts is a 1300 seat theater that, due to Covid, has been closed to performances for over a year. With Covid restrictions lifting and live music slowly making a come back, what better way to start than with The Wynton Marsalis Septet including Wynton Marsalis, Chris Crenshaw, Victor Goines, Carlos Henriquez, Dan Nimmer, Walter Blanding and Obed Calvaire. In an effort to keep the patrons as safe as possible only 10% of the house ...
Continue ReadingGlenn Close & Ted Nash: Transformation
by Paul Rauch
Transformation is a multi-disciplinary work from saxophonist/composer Ted Nash, and iconic actress Glenn Close, exploring the multi-faceted and abstract theme of transformation. The works included examine the theme from both universal and individual conceptions. Music and literature at its best is clearly transformative for anyone experiencing it. Transformation is by essence, the highest and most illuminating expression of change. Nash embraced the project by creating a colorful and illustrative collection of pieces, embracing Close's curated literary selections recited by the ...
Continue ReadingGlenn Close/Ted Nash: Transformation
by Jack Bowers
When confronted by an album whose tracks include the names Creation" (Parts 1 and 2), Preludes for Memnon," Wisdom of the Humanities" and Reaching the Tropopause," among others, one braces for whatever may transpire, buoyed by the thought that with Glenn Close, Ted Nash and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra on board, how displeasing could it be? The verdict: not at all displeasingbut it must be appraised on its own terms, as a series of philosophical and hopefully transformative ...
Continue ReadingJazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra Septet with Wynton Marsalis: The Democracy! Suite
by Paul Rauch
There is an interesting generational divide in perception when it comes to the music of Wynton Marsalis. While many hail his work at Lincoln Center as elevating jazz to its rightful place among the fine arts, others lament the separation from his iconic quartet and quintet work in the 1980's as some sort of jazz treason. What is unquestionable is his virtuosity and eloquence, expressing each note with beauty as the clear priority in his playing as a ...
Continue ReadingA response to yet another senseless public murder of a Black Citizen by officers of the law
by Wynton Marsalis
With the crescendo of public outcry and proliferation of opinions and justifiable expressions of outrage by so many experts, officials and popular celebrities, I fear there's little room or need for yet another person voicing a commonly held opinion. I also believe that the everyday tragedies that are commonplace and routine to our everyday way of living, should be addressed when they happen, not when so much pressure has built up in the system that it must be ...
Continue ReadingVirtual Jazz: A Hallmark Achievement from Jazz at Lincoln Center
by Nick Catalano
Virtual reality and the concomitant world of digitalization has received remarkable new attention because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Every conceivable art or music entity usually presented in a live format has adapted the technology and audience responses everywhere are so favorable that this new approach will certainly continue to develop long after the present crisis ebbs. Of all the virtual musical programming experienced in the last weeks none has impressed more than the Worldwide Concert for Our ...
Continue Reading42nd Le Festival International De Jazz De Montreal: June 30-July 9, 2022
Source:
Braithwaite & Katz Communications
The Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, presented by TD Bank Group in collaboration with Rio Tinto, kicks off on June 30, treating audiences to headlining acts at the heart of downtown Montréal until July 9, 2022. In total, more than 350 concerts are on the program, 2/3 of which are free, on a pedestrian-only site. Here’s a peek at what’s going to make this a better-than-ever festival edition. JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER ORCHESTRA WITH WYNTON MARSALIS Opener : Ariane ...
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Jazz Arts Initiative Celebrates 10th Anniversary, Announces Name Change To JazzArts Charlotte
Source:
Mark Sullivan
International jazz legend Wynton Marsalis joined JazzArts Charlotte President and CEO Lonnie Davis on Saturday, March 30 for a re-branding kickoff event held for sponsors, volunteers and local dignitaries. Ten years ago, Lonnie and O.C. Davis came to Charlotte from their hometown of jny: New Orleans, displaced by Hurricane Katrina. They had an audacious dream to create a unique new organization that would be dedicated to jazz performance and education. They established the Jazz Arts Initiative. Since that time the ...
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Music Education Monday: Master classes with Wynton Marsalis
Source:
St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
Wynton Marsalis is known not only as a trumpet player, composer, and bandleader, but also as a strong advocate for jazz education. As the artistic head of Jazz at Lincoln Center, Marsalis (pictured) has overseen the development of a number of educational programs for the institution, but he also gets involved personally in teaching when the opportunity arises. And so, for today's installment of Music Education Monday, here's a chance to check out videos of a couple of master classes ...
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Wynton Marsalis Leads Juilliard’s Jazz Program
Source:
Michael Ricci
By Peter Monaghan Wynton Marsalis, the trumpeter, has a new role that is likely to expand his influence on the direction and public perception of jazz: director of the jazz-studies program at Juilliard School of Music. In July Mr. Marsalis replaced Carl Allen, a drummer, as leader of the program at his alma mater. His appointment marked the fruition of a long association, says Joseph W. Polisi, Juilliard's president since 1984. He says that he and Mr. Marsalis, one of ...
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Jazz St. Louis Announces $10 Million Capital Campaign for New Jazz Center
Source:
All About Jazz
St. Louis, MO: From Scott Joplin’s playing of Ragtime in 1895 to Miles Davis playing Be-Bop in 1944 and to the dozens of other jazz greats who hail from the Gateway City, St. Louis has played an important and pivotal role in the history of jazz. Today, Jazz St. Louisone of the best known and longest running not-for-profit jazz organizations in the countryannounced its $10 million capital campaign supporting a new state-of-the-art live performance and jazz education center, jazz lounge ...
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Fantasia Barrino Returns to Broadway
Source:
All About Jazz
By John Wesley Reed Jr. Fantasia Barrino, American Idol winner, who went on to play the lead role in Broadway's The Color Purple, was among the rotating roster of guest stars in After Midnight, Broadway's hottest new musical, also featuring Dule' Hill, and The Jazz at Lincoln Center All-Stars. Presented by Wynton Marsalis, Artistic Director, and Scott Sanders Productions, the production appeared at Brooks Atkinson Theatre, 256 West 47th Street, New York, NY February 4 thru February 9, 2014.
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"The Spiritual Side Of Wynton Marsalis" to be Released October 22
Source:
Sony Music Entertainment/Legacy
Pulitzer Prize and nine-time Grammy Award®-winning musician, and Managing and Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center, Wynton Marsalis digs into his rich collection of spiritually inspired recordings at the Columbia and Sony Classical labels for The Spiritual Side Of Wynton Marsalis. This special collection of 15 divine tracks will be available everywhere October 22 through Columbia/Sony Classical/Legacy, a division of SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT. The release of The Spiritual Side Of Wynton Marsalis coincides with the month-long Abyssinian: A Gospel ...
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SISO's 2012-13 Season to Feature Concerts with Wynton Marsalis and JALCO, Chris Botti
Source:
St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
The Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra tonight announced its season schedule for 2012-13, and the lineup of concerts includes a few performances that could be of potential interest to local jazz fans. As part of its Live at Powell Hall" series, the SLSO will present a program called The Music of Ray Charles" on Friday, September 21. Charles' vast catalog certainly provides plenty of material to work with, and with the right songs and vocal soloists, it could be a solid ...
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Wynton Marsalis Performs The Ballad of the American Arts in Philadelphia Honoring Jazz Appreciation Month, April 3
Source:
Michael Ricci
Tickets on Sale Now! The Kimmel Center kicks off Jazz Appreciation Month with a special program, The Ballad of the American Arts, featuring Wynton Marsalis with members of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra in Verizon Hall on April 3, 2012 at 7:30pm. Jazz master Marsalis honors America's premier indigenous art form with a moving lecture and live performance. The lecture will examine the role of the arts in creating an American cultural identity, and includes performances featuring members of ...
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Happy 50th Birthday, Wynton Marsalis - Legacy Recordings Announces Swinging Into The 21st for October 18th
Source:
Sony Music Entertainment/Legacy
11-CD DELUXE BOX SET COMMEMORATES HIS MAMMOTH ALBUM RELEASE CAMPAIGN OF 1999-2000 ALSO: 14-track SELECTIONS FROM SWINGING INTO THE 21st single CD available on same date As Pulitzer and 9-time Grammy Award-winner Wynton Marsalis eases into his 50th birthday on October 18, 2011, he casts his memory back a dozen years to 1998-99. With the new millennium on the way, Wynton began to lay plans with Columbia Records and Sony Classical for an unprecedented release of nine major album projects ...
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Primary Instrument
Trumpet
Location
New York City