Since pianist Marcus Roberts first made a name for himself in
the 80s, he’s established his own voice by distilling the compositions,
style, and technique of great jazz piano masters. His recent record New Orleans Meets Harlem is a great example of his gift for alchemy. With his trio – comprised of drummer Jason Marsalis and bassist Rodney Jordan
– Roberts fleshes out the intricacies of tunes by Jelly Roll Morton
with a modern jazz twist. For this concert, the expansion to an octet
will ignite Roberts’ imagination to create sounds and colors that Morton
could only hear in his head. Featuring trumpeter Alphonso Horne, trombonist Ron Westray, saxophonists Stephen Riley and Ricardo Pascal, and clarinetist Joe Goldberg.
New Orleans Celebration: New Orleans Piano Kings
presented by Jazz at Lincoln Center
2011-12 Season
Master drummer Herlin Riley invites us all to a dream show for
any musician from New Orleans. Here he honors the great Crescent City
pianists of the past by recruiting great New Orleans pianists of the
present. His choices are the best of three generations of modern piano
players, including the dean of Louisiana pianists Ellis Marsalis, veteran Henry Butler, and young star Jonathan Batiste They are joined by New Orleans native Reginald Veal on bass.
Free Pre-Concert Activities
Free pre-concert discussion with JALC’s Ken Druker and pianist Terry Waldo, nightly at 7pm.
Free pre-concert celebration including live music by the Red Hook Ramblers, a gumbo cook-off, album art displays, and more, nightly at 6:30pm.
Today's first family of jazz, the Marsalises don't often get together, at least on stage. But when the Duke Ellington Jazz Festival in Washington, D.C. (now the DC Jazz Festival), gave its 2009 lifetime achievement award to family father Ellis Marsalis — a great pianist and legendary educator — all four of his music-playing sons (Wynton, Branford, Delfeayo and Jason) joined him on stage. Ellis Marsalis III also recited an original poem for his father, frequent collaborators Herlin Riley and Eric Revis stepped in, Dr. Billy Taylor joined in the fun, and family friend Harry Connick Jr. took a few guest spots, too.
Marsalis Music, the record label founded by Branford, recorded the show. Now, it's releasing part of the concert as Music Redeems. But this isn't a money grab: All proceeds from sales are going to the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music, the practice, teaching, recording and performing space currently under construction as the heart of the New Orleans Habitat Musicians' Village. (Following Hurricane Katrina, Connick and Branford Marsalis initiated the construction of a community for New Orleans musicians, many of whom lived in substandard housing even before Katrina.)
The music captured here feels casual in the best way. There's the deft reading of "Donna Lee," with a muted Wynton bebop-soloing away and Jason whistling the rapid-fire melody. Or the joyous back-and-forth New Orleans feel of "At the House in Da Pocket" and "The 2nd Line," the blues tunes which close out the album. Or Ellis Marsalis' solo piece "After," or his duet with Harry Connick Jr. on "Sweet Georgia Brown," or the charming story Connick tells about taking piano lessons in the Marsalis household as a child. It's as if the family and friends were gathering for a jam session on stage, and amazing each other at every turn.
Proudly hailing from music-obsessed New Orleans, the Marsalises have always believed in the fundamentally redemptive power of their craft. With this recording, they're kick-starting that redemption. Music Redeems will stream here in its entirety until its release on Aug. 24.
America's first family of jazz can now claim the nation's highest jazz honor.
The National Endowment for the Arts announced Thursday that the Marsalis family is among its 2011 Jazz Masters Award recipients.
It's the first time in the program's 29-year history that the NEA is presenting a group award. The Marsalis family includes patriarch Ellis, a pianist and educator, and his four sons: trumpeter Wynton, saxophonist Branford, trombonist Delfeayo, and percussionist Jason.
The other 2011 Jazz Masters are flutist Hubert Laws, saxophonist David Liebman, composer and arranger Johnny Mandel, and record producer and author Orrin Keepnews.
Export NOLA: Experience New Orleans Music! 2 Venues 1 Ticket! $20adv - $25dos At The Bitter End & Sullivan Hall
Funky Butt Revisited featuring Big Sam Williams, Christian Scott, Jon Batiste, Will Bernard, Doug Wimbish, & more Jason Marsalis' Vibes Quartet/ John Ellis & Double-Wide/ Christian Scott/ The John Batiste Band/ Paul Sanchez Duo feat. Matt Perine The Bitter End Lineup: The Iguanas/ Rosie Ledet & The Zydeco / Playboys/ Paul Sanchez/ Jamie McLean Band/ Mia Borders
Proud to say that the above photo of Delfeayo is featured on page 70 of today's NY Post. While it may be postage stamp sized, it's not everyday that I have a photo printed millions of times around the world.
A LIMITED NUMBER OF FREE TICKET PAIRS are being offered for DELFEAYO MARSALIS: A TRIBUTE TO ELVIN JONES From Tuesday through Sunday, not including Friday and Saturday nights. Marsalis and his band will be performing at the Blue Note from January 13 - 18. The contest will end on Friday, January 16, at 5:00pm ET. To win 2 free tickets to see the Delfeayo Marsalis: A Tribute to Elvin Jones, follow the directions below. We will contact you via email if you are a winner:
TO ENTER:
1. Email your name and phone number to contests@bluenote.net 2. In the Subject Line, please title your email "BN BLOG CONTEST - DELFEAYO MARSALIS" 3. Indicate which day and set (8pm or 10:30pm) you would like tickets for (any day except Friday & Saturday)
*If any of these instructions are not followed, you will not be included in the contest!
This is an original New Orleans band. Like all New Orleans residents the band members went through Hurricane Katrina and the levy disaster that happened afterward, and the total damage and suffering it caused to their town. Although it has affected them all personally it has not slowed them down much. The Radiators have been producing original songs for over 30 years. Wow. The most amazing part of this phenom is that all of the original members are still playing together making this one of just a few long tenured bands. This New Orleans quintet has been together touring and writing songs long enough to have a cult following that fills venues everytime. They are an integral part of New Orleans and the re-vitalization of the town. They have had gigged at Tips and other New Orleans clubs for well over 20 years.
You don't expect to hear Mr. Quintron discuss a water pump. The world of Quintron and his wife/percussionist/puppeteer Miss Pussycat is rarely so mundane, but while in New York City for a show featuring his new album Too Thirsty 4 Love and an art show of Pussycat's puppets, the van broke down and had to be dealt with.
A more common context for Quintron and Miss Pussycat is theatrical, such as their performance in the Bingo! Parlour during this year's Voodoo Music Experience. Dressed in a blue, sparkled jumpsuit, Quintron settled in his console--a small bank of keyboards fronted with a car grill complete with headlights and a "Quintron" license plate, along with a mess of less obvious homemade instruments and Drum Buddy, his light-activated synthesizer with its signature inverted coffee can on top. When he sat down, a droning organ swell rose, part roller rink, part Phantom of the Opera. He nursed the drone along, then brought it under control and started to frame it into a song. When the rhythm kicked in, Miss Pussycat stood beside him shaking maracas dressed in red and white cozies that matched the puff on her head. The drone becomes "Waterfall," a ride-the-train dance party from the new album, and when it was over, it returned to the drone that spawned it and filled the space between songs.
A big plus for the holiday season in New Orleans is that many of our musicians come in off the road and their names pop up on local club schedules. December listings blossom with those who we boast as local artists but who in reality are internationally renowned musicians.
Dr. John's 429 Records Debut "CITY THAT CARE FORGOT" Nominated for "Best Contemporary Blues" Grammy
Dr. John (aka Mac Rebennack, Jr.), has secured a Grammy Award nomination for "Best Contemporary Blues Album" for his 2008 recording "CITY THAT CARE FORGOT." He recently signed to the Savoy Label Group's 429 Records which released the heartfelt homage to his hometown of New Orleans. Described by USA Today as "a rambunctious and furious post-Katrina polemic," "CITY THAT CARE FORGOT" is both an eloquent and an angry musical venting of emotions surrounding the devastation and lack of response to the Katrina disaster. This is Dr. John's 11th Grammy Award nomination overall having won the award in 1989, 1992, 1996 and 2000. The 51st Grammy Awards will be held on February 8th.
Louisiana Grammy Nominees Announced (from Weekly Beat)
This year Louisiana didn't have to rely on the jazz, blues and Cajun/zydeco categories to get a little love. Lil Wayne and Tha Carter III did the heavy lifting, garnering nominations for Album of the Year, Best Rap Solo Performance ( "A Milli" ), Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group (he competes against himself here as he's on Jay-Z's "Swagga Like Us" and Jay-Z's on his "Mr. Carter" ), Best Rap/Sung Collaboration ( "Got Money" ), Best Rap Song ("Lollipop" and "Swagga Like Us" ) and Best Rap Album.
But Weezy's not the whole story. Terence Blanchard is nominated for Best Jazz Instrumental Solo for "Be-Bop" from Live at the 2007 Monterey Jazz Festival, and the Blind Boys of Alabama are up for Best Traditional Gospel Album for Down in New Orleans, which they recorded here at Preservation Hall with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, the Hot 8 Brass Band, Allen Toussaint and more. Louisiana and friends own the Best Contemporary Blues Album category, with three of the five nominees from the area: Marcia Ball (Peace, Love & BBQ), Dr. John and the Lower 911 (City That Care Forgot) and Irma Thomas (Simply Grand).
Tulane University is expanding its graduate degree program in Musicology with a concentration in Jazz Studies and New Orleans Music.
The Department of Music is actively seeking applicants for the expanded program, which launches in Fall 2009 and includes funding for tuition waivers and stipends for up to five students. Applications are due February 1, 2009.
New Orleans’ rockers and masters of harmony The Subdudes recently did something they’ve never done since getting together way back in 1987 - put out a live concert video. If almost to make up for lost time, the sweet sounding quintet have put out an inspired double DVD documentary and concert film displaying two completely different sides of the band’s music.
Filmed over the course of three days in Annapolis Maryland, The Subdudes Live at Ram’s Head and Unplugged at Pleasant Plains two-DVD set contains 15 song selections from two nights of concerts at The Ram’s Head on the first disc. The second disc features 70 minutes of interviews, an unplugged set and original studio footage shot while creating and recording the Street Symphony album with legendary producer George Massenberg in Nashville Tennessee. We recently spoke with ‘dudes’ bassist Jimmy Messa about the band’s first DVD…
Trumpeter Christian Scott fights for the future of jazz
"If I hear it a certain way, that's the way it's going to be," Christian Scott says.When asked about the state of jazz, Christian Scott's mood sours. "The [stuff] is garbage," said the New Orleans-born trumpeter, speaking by phone from San Francisco, his voice sharp, direct. "I mean, you want the truth?"
Singer-songwriter Cowsill, most recently of the Continental Drifters, and most famously the youngest member of late ’60s family band the Cowsills (inspiration for television’s “Partridge Family”), is headed to the studio in January to record her second solo album.
Her first solo release, Just Believe It, recorded shortly after Hurricane Katrina, is being remixed and remastered for a January release on Threadhead Records. That 2005 disc, featuring guest appearances by Lucinda Williams, Vicki Peterson, and Adam Duritz of Counting Crows, generated loads of critical acclaim.
In their 25-year history, The Meters have grooved their way around the globe. They have toured with such talents as The Rolling Stones, and have been the rhythm for such diverse artists as Dr. John, Paul McCartney, Robert Palmer and Patti Labelle.
Considered by many to be the founding fathers of funk, The Meters created a unique sound that lasted through the sixties and seventies and was reborn in the late eighties. Their trademark sound blends funk, blues, and dance grooves with a New Orleans vibe.
New Orleans is internationally known for its rich musical culture as well as the birthplace of jazz music. Although the city still maintains its image for being a musical mecca, it has been facinga paradox between the music industry and its music. The music industry has been having a hard time matching with the overabundance of musical talent in New Orleans.
Should've posted this sooner, but better later than never since they put on a fun show tonight and you can still catch them tomorrow night. Really, any chance to see Matt Perrine's sousaphunk and Jason Marsalis' drumming display in the same ensemble is a win win...
John Ellis & Double-Wide make their NYC debut at The Jazz Standard on Tuesday, May 13 and Wednesday, May 14. John and his band are just back from New Orleans Jazzfest where they roamed the city all week and simply blew people away one gig after the next, including an official Fairgrounds show on the WWOZ stage in front of thousands!
JOHN ELLIS & DOUBLE-WIDE
featuring JOHN ELLIS, MATT PERRINE, GARY VERSACE & JASON MARSALIS
John Ellis is a North Carolina-born tenor saxophonist with a smart and generous flow who’s spent a lot of time studying and playing in New Orleans. But he’s a New Yorker now, and his new band, Double-Wide, combines musicians of both cities. Gary Versace, who plays Hammond organ, lives here; the sousaphone player Matt Perrine and the drummer Jason Marsalis live in New Orleans.
