Jason Marsalis
Encyclopedia
Jason Marsalis is an American
jazz drummer
and member of the famous New Orleans Marsalis jazz musical family. He is the youngest son of Delores Ferdinand Marsalis and Ellis Marsalis, Jr.
His brothers are Branford Marsalis
, Wynton Marsalis
, Ellis Marsalis III (1964), Delfeayo Marsalis
, and Mboya Kinyatta (1971). Branford, Wynton, and Delfeayo are also jazz musicians.
Jason has not only inherited the virtuosity and compositional skills associated with the Marsalis family, but has also developed a distinctive, polyrhythm
ic drumming style. Though his first professional gig was with his father at the age of twelve, he studied classical percussion
at Loyola University
in New Orleans, and worked as a sideman with straight-ahead combos, funk fusion bands, a Brazilian percussion ensemble (Casa Samba), and even a Celtic group. He introduced percussionist Bill Summers to trumpeter Irvin Mayfield
and together they co-founded the wildly successful Los Hombres Calientes
. Then, at the height of that band's popularity, Jason left to join up with acclaimed pianist Marcus Roberts
.
Most recently, Jason has been playing vibraphone
. On August 25, 2009, Marsalis released his first album as a leader on the vibes entitled Music Update. The album, which earned 4.5 out of 5 stars in Downbeat Magazine, showcases Jason playing the vibraphone with his working quartet as well as several over-dubbed drum ensembles entitled the "Disciplines." Ben Ratliff from The New York Times
described the Jason’s album as "an excellent musician trying out something risky without embarrassment."
Jason also continues to work as a sideman with Marcus Roberts, Ellis and Delfeayo Marsalis, John Ellis, Dr. Michael White, and Shannon Powell among others.
Marsalis, with his father and brothers, are group recipients of the 2011 NEA Jazz Masters Award
.
He is also featured in the non-fiction film on New Orleans Jazz
Culture, Tradition is a Temple
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
jazz drummer
Jazz drumming
Jazz drumming is the art of playing percussion in jazz styles ranging from 1910s-style Dixieland jazz to 1970s-era jazz-rock fusion and 1980s-era latin jazz...
and member of the famous New Orleans Marsalis jazz musical family. He is the youngest son of Delores Ferdinand Marsalis and Ellis Marsalis, Jr.
Ellis Marsalis, Jr.
Ellis Marsalis is an American musician. He can usually be seen performing on Fridays at Snug Harbor jazz bistro in New Orleans.- Life and career :...
His brothers are Branford Marsalis
Branford Marsalis
Branford Marsalis is an American saxophonist, composer and bandleader. While primarily known for his work in jazz as the leader of the Branford Marsalis Quartet, he also performs frequently as a soloist with classical ensembles and has led the group Buckshot LeFonque.-Biography:Marsalis was born...
, Wynton Marsalis
Wynton Marsalis
Wynton Learson Marsalis is a trumpeter, composer, bandleader, music educator, and Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center. Marsalis has promoted the appreciation of classical and jazz music often to young audiences...
, Ellis Marsalis III (1964), Delfeayo Marsalis
Delfeayo Marsalis
Delfeayo Marsalis is an American jazz trombonist and record producer.He is a member of the Marsalis family of jazz musicians: father Ellis Marsalis, Jr. , and brothers Branford Marsalis , Wynton Marsalis , and Jason Marsalis...
, and Mboya Kinyatta (1971). Branford, Wynton, and Delfeayo are also jazz musicians.
Jason has not only inherited the virtuosity and compositional skills associated with the Marsalis family, but has also developed a distinctive, polyrhythm
Polyrhythm
Polyrhythm is the simultaneous sounding of two or more independent rhythms.Polyrhythm in general is a nonspecific term for the simultaneous occurrence of two or more conflicting rhythms, of which cross-rhythm is a specific and definable subset.—Novotney Polyrhythms can be distinguished from...
ic drumming style. Though his first professional gig was with his father at the age of twelve, he studied classical percussion
Percussion instrument
A percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
at Loyola University
Loyola University New Orleans
Loyola University New Orleans is a private, co-educational and Jesuit university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. Originally established as Loyola College in 1904, the institution was chartered as a university in 1912. It bears the name of the Jesuit patron, Saint Ignatius of Loyola...
in New Orleans, and worked as a sideman with straight-ahead combos, funk fusion bands, a Brazilian percussion ensemble (Casa Samba), and even a Celtic group. He introduced percussionist Bill Summers to trumpeter Irvin Mayfield
Irvin Mayfield
Irvin Mayfield, Jr. is an American jazz trumpeter and bandleader. He has been serving as Cultural Ambassador of the City of New Orleans and State of Louisiana since 2003. He co-founded and has co-led the Afro-Cuban jazz group Los Hombres Calientes since 1998. Their debut album won Billboard's 2000...
and together they co-founded the wildly successful Los Hombres Calientes
Los Hombres Calientes
Los Hombres Calientes is a New Orleans based jazz group. They are most associated with Latin jazz, especially Afro-Cuban jazz, and contemporary jazz...
. Then, at the height of that band's popularity, Jason left to join up with acclaimed pianist Marcus Roberts
Marcus Roberts
Marcus Roberts is an American jazz pianist who has achieved fame as a stride pianist committed to celebrating classic standards and jazz traditions. Roberts has also distinguished his solos by accompanying himself with walking basslines...
.
Most recently, Jason has been playing vibraphone
Vibraphone
The vibraphone, sometimes called the vibraharp or simply the vibes, is a musical instrument in the struck idiophone subfamily of the percussion family....
. On August 25, 2009, Marsalis released his first album as a leader on the vibes entitled Music Update. The album, which earned 4.5 out of 5 stars in Downbeat Magazine, showcases Jason playing the vibraphone with his working quartet as well as several over-dubbed drum ensembles entitled the "Disciplines." Ben Ratliff from The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
described the Jason’s album as "an excellent musician trying out something risky without embarrassment."
Jason also continues to work as a sideman with Marcus Roberts, Ellis and Delfeayo Marsalis, John Ellis, Dr. Michael White, and Shannon Powell among others.
Marsalis, with his father and brothers, are group recipients of the 2011 NEA Jazz Masters Award
NEA Jazz Masters
The National Endowment for the Arts , every year honors up to seven jazz musicians with Jazz Master Awards. The National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters Fellowships are the highest honors that the United States bestows upon jazz musicians...
.
He is also featured in the non-fiction film on New Orleans Jazz
Dixieland
Dixieland music, sometimes referred to as Hot jazz, Early Jazz or New Orleans jazz, is a style of jazz music which developed in New Orleans at the start of the 20th century, and was spread to Chicago and New York City by New Orleans bands in the 1910s.Well-known jazz standard songs from the...
Culture, Tradition is a Temple
Tradition Is a Temple
Tradition Is a Temple is an American documentary film about New Orleans jazz culture and modernization’s effect on American traditions.-Plot:...
.
Selected discography
- The Marsalis Family - Music Redeems (Marsalis MusicMarsalis MusicMarsalis Music is a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based record label founded in 2002 by saxophonist Branford Marsalis, one of the most celebrated jazz musicians of the past 30 years. The label was formed to allow Marsalis and other musicians to document their music free of the commercial constraints...
) - Jason Marsalis - Music Update (ELM Records)
- Jason Marsalis - The Year Of The Drummer (Basin Street Records)
- Jason Marsalis - Music In Motion (Basin Street Records)
- Roland Guerin - You Don't Have To See It To Believe It (Half Note Records)
- John Ellis - Roots, Branches & Leaves (Fresh Sound New Talent)
- The Marsalis Family - A Jazz Celebration (Marsalis MusicMarsalis MusicMarsalis Music is a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based record label founded in 2002 by saxophonist Branford Marsalis, one of the most celebrated jazz musicians of the past 30 years. The label was formed to allow Marsalis and other musicians to document their music free of the commercial constraints...
/RounderRounder RecordsRounder Records, originally of Cambridge, Massachusetts, but now based in Burlington, Massachusetts, is a record label founded in 1970 by Ken Irwin, Bill Nowlin and Marian Leighton-Levy, while all three were still university students...
) - The Ellis Marsalis Trio - Twelve's It (Columbia RecordsColumbia RecordsColumbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
) - David Morgan Trio - Live At The Blue Note (Half Note Records)
- Los Hombres Calientes - Los Hombres Calientes (Basin Street Records)
- Los Hombres Calientes - Vol. 2 (Basin Street Records)
- Marcus Roberts Trio - In Honor Of Duke (Columbia Records)