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Ellis Marsalis
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Ellis Marsalis is regarded by many as the premier modern jazz pianist in New Orleans. Born on November 14, 1934, he began formal music studies at the Xavier University junior school of music at age eleven. After high school Marsalis enrolled in Dillard University (New Orleans) as a clarinet major. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in music education in 1955. Marsalis spent the next year working as an assistant manager in his fathers’ motel business. The following year Marsalis then joined the U.S. Marine Corps and while stationed in southern California began honing his skills as a pianist on a television show entitled "Dress Blues" and a radio show called "Leatherneck Songbook"
Elias Haslanger: Music for 2026, Not 1956
by Hank Hehmsoth
Tenor saxophonist and composer Elias Haslanger has spent much of his career carrying several generations of jazz history at once. An Austin native and longtime presence on the Central Texas jazz scene, he has absorbed lessons from mentors including Ellis Marsalis, Dr. James Polk and Maynard Ferguson while developing his own identity as a bandleader and composer. Legacy (Bandstand Presents, ...
A House Full of History with Leslie Blackshear Smith in New Orleans
by Thomas Cole
On the recommendation of more than one person, I sought an audience with another of the born and raised New Orleanians who have been indispensable to an education in the town's traditional music. Living a stone's throw from the river and the shadows of an imposing abandoned factory, I knocked on the peeling paint of a ...
Bria Skonberg Quintet At Miner Auditorium
by Steven Roby
Bria Skonberg Miner Auditorium San Francisco, California November 5, 2025 Bria Skonberg took the stage at SFJAZZ's Miner Auditorium with the confidence of an artist who knows that joy is compelling. The 90-minute set was a lively, good-humored, rhythm-driven performance that blended New Orleans roots, swing, blues, and pop as parts ...
The Jazz Innovator: Jerald Miller
by B.D. Lenz
It's understood that talent alone is rarely enough to be successful in the music business. Among other things, it requires drive, relentless hard work, resilience, and a certain level of business acumen. But, in the last few decades, it's become increasingly important to be tech-savvy as well. To highlight the difference, could you imagine Miles Davis ...
Tom Wakeling: West by Northwest
by Jack Bowers
West by Northwest is another in a recent series of splendid small-group concert recordings, this one by bassist Tom Wakeling's close-knit quartet, taped in February 2024 for a receptive audience at the Ravenscroft Center in Scottsdale, Arizona. Wakeling had teamed for a number of years with pianist Angelo Versace and drummer Dom Moio. ...
Jazz Highlights for Record Store Day 2025
by Kyle Simpler
For most Americans, April brings to mind tax deadlines and spring cleaning. But for vinyl collectors, April means something far more exciting: Record Store Day. Each year, music lovers line up early for a chance to snag limited-edition releases--many of them archival treasures, rarities, or long-lost recordings brought back to life. While the overall selection spans ...
Marina Albero: From Pianist To Nomad Of Sound
by Lawrence Peryer
Today, the Spotlight shines On pianist and composer Marina Albero. From Barcelona's vibrant music scene to the heart of New Orleans, Marina keeps finding new ways to push musical boundaries. Her album, A Nomad of Sound (Self Produced, 2024), brings together jazz, classical, and world music traditions in a blend all her own.
Jae Sinnett Quintet Featuring Randy Brecker and Ada Rovatti at the Attucks Theater
by Mark Robbins
Since the mid-'70s, when he came to this part of Southeastern Virginia to serve in the Navy, Jae Sinnett's name has become synonymous with excellent jazz drumming nationally and internationally. His first album as a leader, Obsession (Self Produced), was released in 1986 and featured Frank Foster, John Hicks, Wallace Roney, Steve Wilson and Clarence Seay. ...
Lonnie Davis: Lighting Up Charlotte with Jazz
by K. Shackelford
In the '90s, fierce jazz curator, flutist, and educator Lonnie Davis found herself as the only female in The University of New Orleans jazz program. Prior to that, she studied under jazz patriarch Ellis Marsalis while a high school student at the highly selective and musically rigorous New Orleans Center for Creative Arts. The brilliant music ...


