Delfeayo Marsalis

The National Endowment for the Arts finished out Jazz appreciation Month by posting the interview we had in January. A free podcast will be released each Thursday featuring one-on-one interviews with everyone from NEA Jazz Masters to leading arts experts to National Medal of Arts winners and more.
Here’s a link: http://www.arts.gov/podweb/podCMS/pod.php?id=p0106

On Friday, May 4, Delfeayo Marsalis and his Uptown Jazz Orchestra close out the Jazz Tent at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival starting at 5pm. “We’ll miss trombonist Wycliffe Gordon and drummer Herlin Riley, who play Economy Hall at the same time. But,” Marsalis promises, “look for some kind of trombone battle to break out before
the weekend is over!” For more information go to http://www.nojazzfest.com/

Today, May 3 at 8pm, Delfeayo Marsalis and his Uptown Jazz Orchestra will perform at The Old U.S. Mint in NOLA. “Several months ago UJO partnered with The Old U.S. Mint, with the aim of introducing NOLA students to its wonderful collection and resources,” says Marsalis. “Thursday’s performance will feature songs from their collection, which have been orchestrated especially for this concert.”
Musical guests include Leah Chase, Davell Crawford, Herlin Riley and Kenneth Terry. For more information go to
http://www.thelmf.org/delfeayo-marsalis-and-the-uptown-jazz-orchestra

View more videos at: http://nbcnewyork.com.

GLOBAL WEEKENDS: NEW ORLEANS: CULTURE REMIXED
SATURDAY, APRIL 28, FROM 1 TO 6 PM
Performances Include
Jazz Trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis and His Party Like It’s Mardi! Band and
Cajun Bluegrass Ensemble The Hoppin’ John String Band

Enjoy New Orleans-style music, dance, and food; learn about Creole language and culture; and explore traditional African costumes with the American Museum of Natural History during its Global Weekends: New Orleans: Culture Remixed on Saturday, April 28, from 1 to 6 pm. As part of the national Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM) celebrations this April, the Museum will be taking a close look at jazz’s birthplace, New Orleans: how its art forms, rich cultural diversity, and spirit have thrived in a cosmopolitan fusion for nearly three centuries. Join in the celebration through family-friendly activities and performances by Cajun bluegrass ensemble Hoppin’ John String Band and trombonist and Grammy Award-winning producer Delfeayo Marsalis with his popular Party Like It’s Mardi! band.

Like New Orleans’ dynamic cultural and hybrid nature, the Museum introduces visitors to new worlds, allowing them to discover links between global societies and cultural traditions. Hosted by WBGO radio personality Sheila Anderson, the day’s activities will include:
· Let’s Talk Creole: An opportunity to discover Creole connections from Louisiana to Haiti and beyond with Tom Klingler, Louisiana Creole language expert of Tulane University; Gregory Guy, linguistics scholar from New York University; and Suzanne Dikker, Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology researcher. Tantra-Zawadi will provide a Haitian Creole reading with musical accompaniment by Aleijuan Afuraka.
· Secret Societies: Costumes and Masks: Curatorial associate Jacklyn Lacey from the Museum’s Division of Anthropology will lead a tour through the Hall of African Peoples highlighting initiation costumes throughout Africa and the vibrant history of secret societies in African and African-American traditions; and

The day concludes with a Conversation and Concert with Delfeayo Marsalis. The National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master shares his reflections on growing up in New Orleans in a family of musical masters, including father Ellis and brothers Branford, Wynton, and Jason, and speaks about his ongoing efforts to keep New Orleans culture alive and thriving. Following the question-and-answer session, Marsalis and his Party Like It’s Mardi! band will perform complete with a Big Chief Mardi Gras Indian and traditional “second line” dancer. Marsalis will be available for a special CD signing after the performance. Part of the proceeds will be donated to the Uptown Music Theatre, a nonprofit arts organization founded by Marsalis that empowers the children and greater community of New Orleans.

Throughout the day, traditional Southern-style culinary favorites will be sold in the Museum Food Court, located on the lower level. Take a bite of the Big Easy’s history and sample some delicious traditional bread pudding. In the Grand Gallery, visitors can also create a Mardi-Gras mask, pick up a free Smithsonian Jazz Appreciation Month poster, and learn how to help the New Orleans-area Habitat for Humanity post-Katrina rebuilding effort.

The Presenting Sponsor of the Museum’s cultural public programming is MetLife Foundation.

Support for Global Weekends is made possible, in part, by the Ford Foundation, the May and Samuel Rudin Family Foundation, Inc., and the family of Frederick H. Leonhardt. The Media Partner of AMNH’s New Orleans: Culture Remixed is WBGO Jazz 88.3FM / WBGO.org.

Black history month has always been a rather dubious occasion for me. On the one hand, the accomplishments of many great Americans is not given the same importance and respect as others. On the other hand, without question these actions have equally changed and/or impacted our country’s current state. Truly the actions of individuals like Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglas, Louis Armstrong and Martin Luther King (to name the most obvious) would not have had the same outcome had they been birthed under different circumstances. But how these heroes and many others chose to face their adversity changed lives and altered thinking in all of America. That said, I always laugh at the results when Black History is a topic on Jeopardy!

In school we learned American history in the context of surrounding events, people and geography. Black history was reduced to a few names and dates with no real contextual background, thus making it more difficult to embrace and decreasing its value. Here in New Orleans, one of our major landmarks is named Robert E. Lee Circle, after the failed Confederate general with no real connection to the city at all. A major elementary school is named for Robert Mills Lusher, a staunch segregationist and superintendent of schools in the late 1800s–how ironic is that?!? Black History month, indeed! Let it be embraced on behalf of all Americans. Yes, through all the years of our great country’s development, black folk have contributed something. The implication, however, is that it’s a celebration of Black history, separate of the American story, which is clearly, something else.

The 33rd Annual Jazz Station Poll selected Delfeayo Marsalis as one of the top jazz artists of the year for Sweet Thunder (Troubador Jass Records).

Other artists selected include James Carter, Sonny Rollins, Mark Murphy, Ron Carter, Lalo Schifrin, Johnny Mandel, Russ Kassoff, Marcus Miller, Bill Carrothers, Daniel Smith, Phil Woods, Pat Metheny and Jane Ira Bloom.

See http://jazzstation-oblogdearnaldodesouteiros.blogspot.com/2011/12/dec.html for the original post.