Wynton
Marsalis
Wynton Marsalis a jazz performer and a music composer was born
October 18, 1961-- 1961-10-18(age 48) New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. He
is Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center. He has promoted the
appreciation of Classical and Jazz music,
often focusing on young audiences and As of 2006, he has made sixteen
classical and more than thirty jazz recordings, has been awarded nine
Grammys in both genres, and was awarded the first Pulitzer Prize for
Music for a jazz recording.
Marsalis demonstrated an aptitude and interest for music as a youth.
Al Hirt gave a six-year-old Marsalis his first trumpet. At age eight he
performed traditional New Orleans music in the Fairview Baptist Church
band led by banjoist, Danny Barker.
At fourteen he was invited to perform with the New Orleans
Philharmonic. During his high school years attending De La Salle High
School, Marsalis was a member of the New Orleans Symphony Brass Quintet,
New Orleans Community Concert Band, under the direction of Peter
Dombourian, New Orleans Youth Orchestra, New Orleans Symphony and on
weekends he performed in a jazz band as well as in the popular local
funk band, the Creators.
Marsalis' fifth Blue Note release is centered on that eternally
compelling and most elemental of subjects, the relationship between a
man and a woman. Features 22 tracks of Wynton's signature jazz style as
well as spoken word / poetry, it was an ambitious effort, combining
spoken word and music, and Marsalis has given his quintet some
formidable charts. The album is tempered with flashes of humor and
plenty of swing. There is ease and elegance and more than a little
wisdom in these grooves.
