Listen to Alex Rawls’ “An OffBeat Christmas 2011″ playlist on Spotify Once upon a time, everybody cut a Christmas song. Country singers, R&B singers, surf bands and crooners—they along with countless jazz men and novelty artists cut celebrations of Santa, snow and the spirit of the season. These days, Christmas albums aren’t as ubiquitous as [...]
Tag Archives: Ellis Marsalis
Opening the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music
October 1, 2011 – 12:03 am
At an event celebrating music education, Governor Bobby Jindal remembered his music teacher’s frank assessment of his potential. “I was told if you work hard every day, you might be okay,” he said. Jindal and Mayor Mitch Landrieu were among the dignitaries on hand August 25 to celebrate the opening and dedication of the Ellis [...]
Putting the “Art” in Art for Art’s Sake
September 26, 2011 – 4:47 pm
The beginning of fall marks the start of a season full of arts and culture, and Art for Art’s Sake features citywide art openings at 31 galleries. There will be a Julia Street block party while the galleries are open, with music by DJ Brice Nice and food from local vendors such as Crepes à [...]
AFO Records: All for Fifty
June 1, 2011 – 12:11 am
In 2011, African-American-owned record labels are not news. Motown is the best-known example, and New Orleans has had No Limit and Cash Money Records. In 1961, the notion of African-Americans owning a record label was a radical one, but it was Harold Battiste’s vision. AFO (All For One) Records was not only Black-owned but a [...]
The Marsalis Family, Music Redeems (Marsalis Records)
September 1, 2010 – 12:56 am
The family band has been a cornerstone of the American entertainment industry since the 19th Century, when singing families became the first domestic music stars. There’s something magic about the way blood relatives interact with each other spiritually and instinctively rather than technically. This is even more important in the African-American music tradition, in which [...]
Marsalis Family Named NEA Jazz Masters
July 2, 2010 – 11:12 am
The Marsalis Family – Ellis, Branford, Wynton, Delfeayo and Jason – are the first family to be named en masse Jazz Masters by the NEA. They’re the first family to receive what has previously been an individual honor; also recognized with 2011 Jazz Masters recognition are Hubert Laws, David Liebman, Johnny Mandel and producer Orrin Keepnews. [...]
Battiste Book Celebrated at HNOC, One Eyed Jacks
June 8, 2010 – 9:34 am
Harold Battiste has the distinction of having received three of the four lifetime achievement awards OffBeat presents – for music, music business and music education. In May, we published an excerpt from his memoir, Unfinished Blues, in which he recounted his role in the creation of Dr. John. Tonight, the Historic New Orleans Collection will [...]
YouTube du Jour: Delfeayo Marsalis
May 26, 2010 – 9:47 am
Tonight, Delfeayo Marsalis plays at 8 and 10 at Snug Harbor. Here he is from 2008′s Marsalis Family: A Jazz Celebration, playing “Sultry Serenade” accompanied by father Ellis on piano and brother Jason on drums.
