Obituary,
Ellis Marsalis Jr (1934-2020)
A native of New Orleans, Louisiana, Ellis Louis Marsalis Jr is best known as the head of an incredibly musical family, having fathered two of the most influential jazz musicians of the past thirty years, Wynton and Branford. His other two sons, Jason, a drummer, and Delfeayo, a trombonist have likewise carved successful careers in the business. He was also highly regarded as a musician in his own right, a pianist who played alongside Nat and Cannonball Adderley and Ornette Coleman, and helped to introduce bebop to New Orleans, which was at the time still deeply entrenched in trad jazz and swing. As a leader he recorded over twenty acclaimed albums, many of which feature his sons.
Marsalis’s most lasting influence was as a teacher, with positions at the New Orleans Centre for Creative Arts (where he was the first jazz tutor), the University of New Orleans, and Xavier University of Louisiana. Aside from mentoring his own children, Ellis influenced the careers of countless musicians, his students including Terence Blanchard and Harry Connick Jr.
In a tweet yesterday the Mayor of New Orleans, LaToya Cantrell said ‘Ellis Marsalis was a legend. He was the prototype of what we mean when we talk about New Orleans jazz. The love and the prayers of all of our people go out to his family, and to all of those whose lives he touched.’
'My dad was a giant of a musician and teacher, but an even greater father. He poured everything he had into making us the best of what we could be.’ said Branford in a moving statement. ‘My friend and Harvard Law professor David Wilkins just sent me the following text: "We can all marvel at the sheer audacity of a man who believed he could teach his black boys to be excellent in a world that denied that very possibility, and then watch them go on to redefine what excellence means for all time."'
Some recommended Ellis Marsalis recordings:
One of Ellis Marsalis's finest recording (currently out of print on CD), this finds him working with a top-flight band in sizzling interpretations of jazz standards.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC
A duo recording with trumpeter Mayfield Irwin, demonstrating just how sensitive a pianist Marsalis was.
Available Format: CD
Matt Groom - Head of Jazz
