press

News posts that reference press.

Branford's Tribute to Alvin Batiste

Date: 03.01.2008
Publication: Jazz Times
Author: Branford Marsalis

ALVIN BATISTE (1932-2007) Like many of the guys from his generation, Alvin played everything but was classically trained, so all of his music was informed by that classical training. When Larry Combs, the retiring principal clarinetist in the Chicago Symphony, was in New Orleans for a while, Alvin asked him for a lesson. Larry told Alvin to play something, and Alvin played a bit of the Mozart Clarinet Concerto. After listening, Larry said, “That’s great. Do you play jazz, too?” After he heard Bat play a few songs, he then said, “There’s nothing I can teach you, but thanks for stopping by.”
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Submitted by Ben on March 1st, 2008 — 01:00am

Chris Rose: All Star weekend proves we still throw the best party

Maybe some folks are getting tired of the New Orleans self-love thing. Maybe some folks feel like they’re going to scream if they hear one more time how much more interesting this place is than anywhere else in America.

I’m not one of those people. And I don’t think anyone at the New Orleans Arena Sunday night was either. And I really can’t imagine anyone watching it on TV could think so either. Read more »

Submitted by crwadmin on February 19th, 2008 — 01:00am

Branford Marsalis, Harry Connick Jr. to Headline NBA All-Star Weekend Show

Date: 02.12.2008
Publication: Jazz Times
Author: Jeff Tamarkin

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Submitted by Ben on February 12th, 2008 — 01:00am

NBA All-Star Game to Include Three Days of Musical Acts

Date: 02.11.2008
Publication: The Associated Press

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Submitted by Ben on February 11th, 2008 — 01:00am

New Recordings: Bob French

Date: 01.06.2008
Publication: The Philadelphia Inquirer
Author: Karl Stark


(Marsalis Music ***)

The generations conjoin on this stacked Dixieland recording. The tribute goes to longtime New Orleans drummer Bob French, who runs the city’s longest continuing band, the Original Tuxedo Jazz Orchestra, nearing a full century of performance. (The band was run for many years by his banjo-playing father, Albert “Papa” French.)

Bob French is a righteous player even the hurricane couldn’t wash away. The supporting cast tips you to his importance: Pianist Harry Connick plays the whole set; so does saxophonist Branford Marsalis.
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Submitted by Ben on January 6th, 2008 — 01:00am

ALVIN BATISTE: No one could have imagined that such a life-affirming disc…

Date: 12.27.2007
Publication: Hartford Courant
Author: Owen McNally


No one could have imagined that such a life-affirming disc as this would mark the final testament of the progressive New Orleans clarinetist Alvin Batiste, who died this year at 74.

Making a joyful noise unto the Lord, Batiste struts his genre-busting mastery of everything from high-flying modernism to the stompin’, Mardi Gras-like jubilance of the session’s grand finale.
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Submitted by Ben on December 27th, 2007 — 01:00am

In age of downloads, CD still reigns

Date: 12.16.2007
Publication: All About Jazz
Author: Howard Reich

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Submitted by Ben on December 16th, 2007 — 01:00am

A moving celebration: Flashes of brilliance at BeanTown jazz tribute

Date: 10.01.2007
Publication: Boston Globe
Author: Kevin Lowenthal


Friday night, at Symphony Hall, the BeanTown Jazz Festival opened with an all-star offering that came within at least shouting distance of its advance billing as “concert of the century.” Titled “A Celebration of Jazz and Joyce,” the concert’s personnel was lovingly assembled by jazz impresario George Wein, the proceeds benefiting the Berklee scholarship fund named in honor of his late wife, Joyce Alexander Wein.

The show opened with rousing quintet versions of Thelonious Monk’s “I Mean You” and Tadd Dameron’s “Hot House.” Bassist Ray Drummond and drummer Jimmy Cobb were a Rolls-Royce of a rhythm section. Saxophonist Lew Tabackin and trumpeter Jon Faddis blended beautifully and soloed commandingly. On the second tune, Cobb traded whirlwind eight-bar solos with the other four.
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Submitted by Ben on October 1st, 2007 — 12:00am

Marsalis Music Honors Bob French

Date: 09.01.2007
Publication: Traps Magazine
Author: Robert L. Doerschuk
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Submitted by Ben on September 1st, 2007 — 12:00am

The Marsalis Family: An Update

Date: 07.16.2007
Publication: Marsalis Music

 

Since the release of The Marsalis Family: A Jazz Celebration in 2003 members of the Marsalis Family have been hard at work pursuing divergent but equally intriguing musical endeavors. In 2005 Ellis Marsalis, the patriarch of the family released An Evening with the Ellis Marsalis Quartet on ELM Records, a label he is developing with his wife, Dolores, and son Jason.

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Submitted by Josh on July 16th, 2007 — 12:00am