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Another positive event that took place on the Katrina anniversary was the dedication of the 100th house completed in the Musicians’ Village. The brain child of jazz artists Harry Connick, Jr. and Branford Marsalis, this settlement mixes homes for purchase with some rental units to serve the special economic needs of those who express the soul of New Orleans through sound. These music stars have partnered with Habitat for Humanity to create this oasis to help fellow artists return to their beloved home and thrive. Read more »

Date: 08.11.2009
Publication: Fan Blog
Author: Ken Laster

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The Newport Jazz Festival founded by George Wein, 55 years ago holds a legendary place in the history of Jazz. This years festival was important for bringing such a diverse array of artists from old legends, to modern straight ahead hard-boppers, to bright young artists stretching the boundries of the jazz art form. The show is held at Fort Adams Park right on the New England shoreline. Its fairgrounds have three stages; the main Fort Stage, and two smaller stages, the Water Side and the Harbour Side. For two days, each stage hosts five performances. Read more »

Date: 08.09.2009
Publication: Boston Herald.com
Author: Bob Young Read more »

Date: 08.09.2009
Publication: The Providence Journal
Author: RICK MASSIMO Read more »

Date: 08.05.2009
Publication: Boston Herald
Author: Bob Young

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June 17, 2009

    It wasn’t easy, but New Orleans jazz pianist and patriarch Ellis Marsalis managed to cram a few words in edgewise as the annual Duke Ellington Jazz Festival drew to an exuberant close at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall on Monday night. Read more »

Date: 06.14.2009
Publication: Washington City Paper
Author: Michael J. West Read more »

Date: 06.12.2009
Publication: Burlington Free Press.com
Author: Brent Hallenbeck

I know it was Branford Marsalis’ show tonight at the Flynn Center, but I couldn’t help but focus on his 18-year-old drummer Justin Faulkner after learning about the soon-to-graduate high-schooler at their Meet the Artist session a few hours earlier (see previous blog entry). This is no novelty act - the kid is impressive. He moves deftly from two-handed shuffle to a fuller, funkier beat, and delivered a couple of solos that rocked the house. When Marsalis wasn’t playing his saxophone and stood behind his three fellow musicians to watch and listen (which was often - he relishes sharing the load) he would bob his head to the rhythm and in approval of what Faulkner, pianist Joey Calderazzo and bass player Eric Revis were doing (Calderazzo, by the way, had a gorgeous piano solo on a beautiful tune he wrote called “The Blossom of Parting”; you can see all four band members in this fine photo from tonight by Free Press staffer Glenn Russell).
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Date: 06.11.2009
Publication: The New York Times
Author: Ben Ratliff

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