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 Wynton
Marsalis (1961- ), American trumpet player, whose compositions, like
those of Duke Ellington, combine elements of classical music with
original jazz improvisations. Marsalis's performances and recordings
have increased the popularity of jazz music and encouraged its acceptance
as a serious art form. In 1984 Marsalis became the first musician
to win Grammy Awards in both jazz and classical music categories in
the same year, and in 1997 he became the first jazz artist to win
the Pulitzer Prize for music. Marsalis was born in New Orleans, Louisiana,
and was reared in nearby Kenner. During his youth, he was surrounded
by the New Orleans style of jazz. His father, Ellis Marsalis, was
a gifted professional jazz musician and teacher. Ellis was influential
in Wynton's musical development and encouraged his son to respect
the tradition of jazz. Wynton's brothers, Branford and Delfeayo, also
became professional musicians. Beginning with trumpet lessons at the
age of 12, Wynton went on to attend the Berkshire Music Center at
Tanglewood, in Massachusetts, and the Juilliard School of Music, in
New York City. At the age of 19 he toured with jazz drummer Art Blakey's
Jazz Messengers band. The following year Marsalis toured with the
quartet of jazz pianist and composer Herbie Hancock. In 1981 he released
Wynton Marsalis, his debut album as a jazz bandleader, and in 1983
he released Trumpet Concertos, his classical-music recording debut.
In the mid-1980s, after releasing several more classical and jazz
albums, Marsalis decided to focus his energies on jazz. Regarded as
a master technician of the trumpet early in his career, Marsalis reached
new heights of creative expression with his recordings Majesty of
the Blues (1989) and the subsequent trilogy Soul Gestures in Southern
Blue (1991). These works represented a return to his New Orleans jazz
and blues roots, although the music is distinctively contemporary.
In 1993 Marsalis released Citi Movement, a score for a modern ballet
and perhaps his most ambitious project up to that time. Also in 1993
he resumed his classical music career, performing with opera soprano
Kathleen Battle. In 1995 Marsalis released the album Joe Cool's Blues,
a tribute to American pianist and composer Vince Guaraldi. Two years
later he premiered his oratorio Blood on the Fields, which addresses
the tragedy of slavery. It became first jazz composition to win the
Pulitzer Prize. Since 1990 Marsalis has been the artistic director
for the "Jazz at Lincoln Center" program in New York City. He has
authored the books Sweet Swing Blues on the Road (1994) and Marsalis
on Music (1995). Beginning in 1995 Marsalis hosted an educational
series on National Public Radio (NPR).
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