The Marsalis Family

Date: 03.05.2003
Publication: New York Times
Author: Ben Ratliff

It’s true: the Marsalises have been overexposed to the ends of the earth. One might have looked at the enormous profile on Wynton Marsalis in the current issue of The Atlantic Monthly, noticed the recent PBS special about the family, then seen a full-family concert coming up and rightly wondered why nobody else in jazz was apparently worth paying attention to.
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By Don Heckman
Los Angeles Times
02.16.2003

In “The Marsalis Family: A Jazz Celebration” (*** 1/2, Marsalis Music), the only nonmember of the family in the ensemble is bassist Roland Guerin. Beyond that, it’s all Marsalis: patriarch Ellis on piano, saxophonist Branford, trumpeter Wynton, trombonist Delfeayo and drummer Jason.

It took a tribute concert marking Ellis Marsalis’ retirement from his teaching duties at the University of New Orleans to bring father and four sons together on the same stage, in the same band, for the very first time.
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By Steve Jones
USA Today
02.04.2003

For the past 20 years, the name Marsalis has been synonymous with jazz.

Wynton, artistic director of Jazz at Lincoln Center, has become a cultural icon with his critically acclaimed records and performances and jazz-education efforts. Older brother Branford is highly respected for his music and well-known for his work on TV and with pop bands. Their father, Ellis, is renowned as a pianist and mentor to many of this generation’s important jazz players. Younger brothers Delfeayo, a trombonist, and Jason, a drummer, have made names for themselves both as bandleaders and sidemen.
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Marsalis Music
02.04.2003

ELLIS MARSALIS

• During your formative years, how did radio serve as an influence?

 I learned a lot about listening as a result of the radio.  From the popular standard fare such as Tommy Dorsey, Helen O’Connell and Glenn Miller to the mystery shows such as Lights Out, The Shadow, Superman and the Lone Ranger, whose theme song came from Rossini.  Later, I heard a modern show that was programming the music of Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker and I said Wow! What is THAT?  That experience caused me to move into the direction that I would ultimately pursue.
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