Ellis Marsalis Remembered: Family Memories & Music with Branford, Wynton, Delfeayo and Jason Marsalis
There is no more recognizable family name in jazz from New Orleans and beyond than: Marsalis. We’re paying tribute to the late pianist Ellis Marsalis Jr. who passed of Covid-19 in April 2020, and to his musical sons Branford (saxophone), Wynton (trumpet), Delfeayo (trombone) and Jason (drums and vibraphone). The conversation ranges from coming of age in a family of musicians, with expectations of performing at the highest level, to the interplay of traditional and modern jazz in New Orleans. Previously unheard are Wynton’s remarkable memorial oration and a live set with youngest son Jason Marsalis playing the music of his late father. It’s the enduring and thriving musical legacy of the Marsalis family this week on American Routes.
New Orleans jazz patriarch Ellis Marsalis passed away at age 85 after being hospitalized with coronavirus symptoms. We’re sending all our love to the Marsalis family.
You can hear our interview with Ellis and his sons Jason and Branford here.
To read more about Ellis Marsalis’s legacy, click here.
