Collection:LPB

Genre: Interview

Place Covered: New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 2013-10-27

Duration: 00:26:10

Subjects: Marsalis, Ellis | Music | JAZZ | Pianists | Marsalis, Branford | Marsalis, Delfeayo | Marsalis, Jason | Marsalis, Wynton, 1961-

Contributors:

• Courtney, Beth Host
• Godoy, Al Producer
• Yancey, Allegra Nevils Producer
• Marsalis, Ellis Interviewee

This episode of the series “Louisiana Legends” from October 27, 2013, features an interview with Ellis Marsalis conducted by Beth Courtney. Marsalis, a native of New Orleans, is a jazz pianist and the father of fellow jazz musicians Branford, Wynton, Delfeayo, and Jason Marsalis. He has also served as an educator at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, the University of New Orleans, and Xavier University of Louisiana. He discusses: his musical family; his influence on his sons; the culture of New Orleans facilitating the jazz profession; his wife’s role in his life; jazz as a metaphor for conversation; teaching fundamentals; New Orleans as a source for music post-Katrina; jazz musicians who perform in other genres; the musicians he has performed with; and helping his son, Wynton Marsalis, teach kids at a jazz clinic sponsored by First Lady Michelle Obama. The interview also features a piano performance.