Wynton Marsalis is a key figure in contemporary American music. His work has no geographical boundaries. Today, the merits of the composer and musician are interested far beyond the United States. A popularizer of jazz and the owner of prestigious awards, he never ceases to please his fans with excellent performance. In particular, in 2021 he released a new LP. The artist's studio was called The Democracy! suite.
Childhood and youth of Wynton Marsalis
The artist's date of birth is October 18, 1961. He was born in New Orleans (USA). Winton was lucky enough to be brought up in a creative, large family. His first musical inclinations appeared already in childhood. The guy's father proved himself as a music teacher and jazzman. He skillfully played the piano.
Winton spent his childhood in the small settlement of Kenner. He was surrounded by representatives of different nationalities. Almost all family members have devoted themselves to creative professions. Star guests often appeared in the Marsalis' house. It was Al Hirt, Miles Davis and Clark Terry who advised Winton's father to direct his son's creative potential in the right direction. At the age of 6, the father gave his son a really valuable gift - a pipe.
By the way, Winton was initially indifferent to the donated musical instrument. Even childish interest did not make the boy pick up the pipe. But, the parents could not be left, so they soon sent their son to Benjamin Franklin High School and the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts.
During this period of time, a dark-skinned boy, under the guidance of experienced teachers, gets acquainted with the best classical works. The father, who wanted his son to become a jazzman, spared no effort and time, and already independently taught him the basics of jazz.
As a teenager, he performs with various funk bands. The musician rehearses a lot and performs in front of the audience. In addition, the guy also takes part in music competitions.
He then studied at the Tanglewood Music Center in Lenox. At the end of the 70s of the last century, he leaves his parental home to enter a higher educational institution, which is known as the Juilliard School. The start of the creative path began in the early 80s.
The creative path of Wynton Marsalis
He planned to work with classical music, but the event that happened to him in 1980 forced the artist to change his plans. During this period of time, the musician made a tour of Europe as part of The Jazz Messengers. He "became attached" to jazz, and later realized that he wanted to develop in this direction.
He spent several years on tight tours and recording full-length records. Then the guy signed a lucrative contract with Columbia. At the presented recording studio, Winton is recording his debut LP. On the wave of popularity, he "put together" his own project. The team included:
- Branford Marsalis;
- Kenny Kirkland;
- Charnett Moffett;
- Jeff "Tyne" Watts.
A few years later, most of the presented artists went on tour with a rising star - the Englishman Sting. Winton had no choice but to create a new group. In addition to the musician himself, the composition included Marcus Roberts and Robert Hurst. The jazz ensemble delighted music lovers with really driving and penetrating works. Soon, new members joined the line-up, namely Wessel Anderson, Wycliffe Gordon, Herlin Riley, Reginald Well, Todd Williams and Eric Reid.
At the end of the 80s, the musician initiated a series of summer concerts. The performance of the artists was watched with great pleasure by the people of New York.
Success motivated Winton to organize another big band. His brainchild was called Jazz at Lincoln Center. Soon the guys began to cooperate with the Metropolitan Opera and the Philharmonic. At the same time, he became the head of the Blue Engine Records label and the Rose Hall at home.
Thanks to Wynton Marsalis, in the mid-90s, the first ever documentary film dedicated to jazz was released on television. The artist composed and performed many compositions that today are considered classics of jazz.
Wynton Marsalis Awards
- In 1983 and 1984 he received Grammy awards.
- In the late 90s, he became the first jazz artist to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music.
- In 2017, the musician became one of the youngest members of the DownBeat Hall of Fame.
Wynton Marsalis: details of the artist's personal life
The artist prefers not to talk about the personal. But, the journalists still managed to find out that his heir is Jasper Armstrong Marsalis. As it turned out, the musician at the beginning of his creative career had an affair with actress Victoria Rowell. The son of an American jazzman also showed himself in the creative profession.
Wynton Marsalis: Our Days
In 2020, the artist's concert activity was slightly suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic. But in 2021, he managed to please his fans with the release of a new LP. The record was called The Democracy! suite.
In support of the new studio album, he held a number of solo performances. In the same year, in Russia, he took part in the celebration of the anniversary of the musician Igor Butman.
He revealed that he plans to release a new album next year. For this period of time, the artist is focused on concert activities with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.
