Marsalis speaks to aspiring musicians
Issue date: 3/24/05 Section: ae
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How does a Grammy Award winner and world famous musician define success?
"I got my first job playing music when I was 15-years-old," Branford Marsalis told students from the Dana School of Music Wednesday.
"I made 75 cents. I was just so excited that I was being paid to play music. I took the bus home and it cost me 75 cents."
World-renowned jazz musician and saxophonist Marsalis performed with his quartet at Stambaugh Auditorium in Youngstown Wednesday evening. Marsalis' performance was the fourth annual Leonardi Legacy Concert. The Skeggs Lecture Series sponsored the performance.
In addition to the concert, Marsalis and his quartet were in Bliss Hall Wednesday afternoon to give a special lecture to aspiring professional musicians and music education majors from the Dana School of Music.
Marsalis is a three-time Grammy Award winner who has dabbled in jazz, classical and pop music. He was born in New Orleans, the oldest son of legendary jazz pianist Ellis Marsalis. Since his career began, Marsalis has released 14 jazz albums, two classical albums and two pop albums with Buckshot LeFonque; a project he created that blended sounds of jazz, rhythm and blues, hip hop and rock.
Marsalis has shared the stage with his brother's jazz band, Sting, Bruce Hornsby and the Grateful Dead. From 1992 to 1995, Marsalis was the musical director of the "Tonight Show" band. He has also worked as a producer for Columbia Records. In 2002, Marsalis created his own independent record label "Marsalis Music" as a haven for "committed creative musicians" when major record labels were forced to drop many jazz acts.
Marsalis' newest recording, "Eternal" was released in 2004. It is a collection of ballads. The album's title track was written in honor of Marsalis' wife.
Kent Engelhardt, coordinator of jazz studies at YSU was excited about Marsalis' appearance in Youngstown. The visit was being planned for some time, he said.
"If there were a list of the greatest living saxophone players, Branford would be right near the top if not at the very top. We're very fortunate to have him come here," Engelhardt said.
"I got my first job playing music when I was 15-years-old," Branford Marsalis told students from the Dana School of Music Wednesday.
"I made 75 cents. I was just so excited that I was being paid to play music. I took the bus home and it cost me 75 cents."
World-renowned jazz musician and saxophonist Marsalis performed with his quartet at Stambaugh Auditorium in Youngstown Wednesday evening. Marsalis' performance was the fourth annual Leonardi Legacy Concert. The Skeggs Lecture Series sponsored the performance.
In addition to the concert, Marsalis and his quartet were in Bliss Hall Wednesday afternoon to give a special lecture to aspiring professional musicians and music education majors from the Dana School of Music.
Marsalis is a three-time Grammy Award winner who has dabbled in jazz, classical and pop music. He was born in New Orleans, the oldest son of legendary jazz pianist Ellis Marsalis. Since his career began, Marsalis has released 14 jazz albums, two classical albums and two pop albums with Buckshot LeFonque; a project he created that blended sounds of jazz, rhythm and blues, hip hop and rock.
Marsalis has shared the stage with his brother's jazz band, Sting, Bruce Hornsby and the Grateful Dead. From 1992 to 1995, Marsalis was the musical director of the "Tonight Show" band. He has also worked as a producer for Columbia Records. In 2002, Marsalis created his own independent record label "Marsalis Music" as a haven for "committed creative musicians" when major record labels were forced to drop many jazz acts.
Marsalis' newest recording, "Eternal" was released in 2004. It is a collection of ballads. The album's title track was written in honor of Marsalis' wife.
Kent Engelhardt, coordinator of jazz studies at YSU was excited about Marsalis' appearance in Youngstown. The visit was being planned for some time, he said.
"If there were a list of the greatest living saxophone players, Branford would be right near the top if not at the very top. We're very fortunate to have him come here," Engelhardt said.