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The Marsalis Family: Music Redeems

Publication: JazzTimes
By: Michael J. West
Date: January/February 2011
 

Anyone who thinks the Misters Marsalis offer no surprises need only hear “Donna Lee,” the opening track on Music Redeems, a straight-ahead concert recording of a family tribute to pianist and patriarch Ellis Marsalis. The track features Ellis, trumpeter Wynton and the youngest scion, Jason, whistling on the theme and an improvised solo. The whistling itself is a great surprise, but even greater is that Jason outdoes Wynton in imagination and unpredictability. It’s an early high point among many on this excellent, if somewhat flawed, album.

Ellis is the star of Music Redeems, both as headliner and player. He has a light touch and equally light rhythm, filling a group arrangement of his original “Syndrome” with delicate dance figures, and a lyrical solo performance of “After” with the gait of a Broadway routine.

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Submitted by Bobby on January 4th, 2011 — 12:26pm

Ellis Marsalis: Heart of Gold

AAJNY Ellis Marsalis cover imagePublication: All About Jazz- New York
By: Laurel Gross
Date: January 2011

Ellis Marsalis Jr. has accomplished a lot during his distinguished life in jazz - creating beauty as a firstclass pianist and composer, guiding and inspiring budding musicians through his unswerving devotion as an educator in or near his hometown of New Orleans and with his wife Dolores producing a family of six that includes four high-achievers with notable jazz lives of their own.
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Submitted by Bobby on January 3rd, 2011 — 12:30pm

Groove Notes Top 10 Jazz CD’s of 2010

Publication: Groove Notes
Date: January 2, 2011


People love lists. And Groove Notes isn’t shy about posting them. There were some great albums that came out in the last year, and in no particular order, here are my ten favorites from 2010. 

1. Highway Rider by Brad Mehldau (Nonesuch, March 16, 2010)
2. Decisive Steps by Tia Fuller (Mack Avenue, March 16, 2010)
 3. Jasmine by Keith Jarrett/Charlie Haden (ECM Records, May 25th, 2010)
 4. Music Redeems by The Marsalis Family (Marsalis Music, August 24, 2010) 
5. Tribal by Dr. John (429 Records, August 3, 2010) 
6. Read more »

Submitted by Bobby on January 3rd, 2011 — 12:10pm

A year in review: Great 2010 CDs

Publication: The Louisiana Weekly
By: Geraldine Wyckoff
Date: December 20, 2010

New Orleans musical family dynasties put out and made out in the CD department in 2010. Most of the top albums this year, all of which make for excellent gift-giving opportunities, were released by members of the (in alphabetical order) Andrews, Harrison, Neville and Marsalis families. Other contenders for this year best releases come from the likes of Dr. John and Kermit Ruffins, who one could argue, are dynasties unto themselves. This makes a strong statement about the longevity and continuance that is at the heart of the New Orleans music tradition.

While new styles might dominate or often come and go in other locales, in this city they are more apt to be absorbed and become a new aspect of the heritage. For example, many local hip-hop artists do embrace some of the rhythms and nuances of the music that surrounded them in their childhoods. Read more »

Submitted by Bobby on December 21st, 2010 — 01:51pm

Jazz musician combines Beethoven with The Beatles

Jazz pianist Joey Calderazzo will play Dec. 5 at Murry's

 

Publication: MOVE Magazine
By: Angie Andera
Date: December 3, 2010

For jazz pianist Joey Calderazzo, music has always been a part of his life. The piano first struck a chord with the musician when his childhood friend took up the instrument.

“My next door neighbor played the piano and always had to practice, so instead of going home I’d stay and watch him practice,” Calderazzo said. “I thought it was something I could do too, so at about eight I asked to take piano lessons.”

At the age of 17, Calderazzo got his foot in the door of the music industry by sitting in with New York jazz musicians.

“I would go to jam sessions, or I would have a friend that played with somebody and let me sit in with them,” Calderazzo said. Read more »

Submitted by Bobby on December 16th, 2010 — 02:29pm