In a YouTube video that’s obviously at least partially tongue-in-cheek, Jason Marsalis warns against the crop of young jazz musicians that he dubs “Jazz Nerds International”: Not surprisingly, he kicked the anthill with his comments. Peter Hum of the Ottawa Citizen asked that he name names: Who are the jazz nerds that Marsalis so vehemently [...]
Tag Archives: Jason Marsalis
Marcus Roberts, New Orleans Meets Harlem, Vol. 1 (J-Master)
June 1, 2009 – 12:01 am
Blind piano prodigy, Wynton Marsalis protégé and staunch traditionalist Marcus Roberts returns with his first album in eight years, New Orleans Meets Harlem, Vol. 1. He is back with his longtime trio, New Orleans bassist Roland Guerin and drummer Jason Marsalis, reinterpreting the sounds that led from saloons of Storyville to the streets of the [...]
The Vision Thing
May 1, 2008 – 12:01 am
“Doublewide” brings to mind images of those annoying “Oversize Load” trucks carrying what appears to be half of a pre-fab house down the freeway during afternoon rush hour. But to saxophonist John Ellis, doublewide has an entirely different meaning. Ellis grew up in a North Carolina town full of doublewide trailers, and he uses the [...]
Ellis Marsalis Quartet, An Open Letter to Thelonious (ELM)
May 1, 2008 – 12:01 am
Thelonious Monk compositions are like Egyptian tombs, each with its own unique curse for those unworthy to open them. Monk himself had little patience for those who didn’t understand how important it was to play his compositions exactly the way he wanted them to sound, which is why he chose his band members so carefully. [...]
Hampton Flying South
April 1, 2008 – 12:01 am
Rightly or wrongly, horn players loom over the history of jazz, yet anyone who knows jazz knows Lionel Hampton. As a band leader, educator, political activist, his influence touched all spheres of life. And now, on the eve of the 100th anniversary of his birth, New Orleans is there to celebrate. On April 19, the [...]
Young Turks Set Out for Jazz Boot Camp; Sun Ra Has Left the Planet
July 1, 1993 – 12:01 am
When most people think of summer camp, visions of tree-lined trails leading to sparkling lakes, bonfires and pup tents come to mind. But for young, serious-minded, passionate musicians such as 16-year-old drummer Jason Marsalis and 15-year-old trumpeter Irvin Mayfield, summer camp means diving not into a mountain lake but a sea of music. Jason, the [...]
Ellis Marsalis, Heart of Gold (Columbia Records)
March 1, 1992 – 12:01 am
Ellis’ fans will no doubt welcome his new album on Columbia. Produced by son Delfeayo, it features Ray Brown on bass and Herlin Riley, Billy Higgins, and Jason Marsalis as a line supporting crew on drums. “Have You Met Miss Jones?” is a straight-ahead, light, swinging reading with no surprises. But on “Never Let Me [...]
