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Ellis Marsalis (1996-04-10)
About this film
An interview with Ellis Marsalis conducted by Gus Weill for Louisiana Legends. Marsalis is an influential jazz pianist from New Orleans, Louisiana, and the father of fellow jazz musicians Branford, Wynton, Delfeayo, and Jason Marsalis. He discusses growing up in New Orleans; graduating from Dillard University; his service in the U.S. Marines; his family's musical origins; the 1960s as a bad time for jazz in New Orleans; the impact of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Beatles' first visit to America on jazz; the evolution of jazz; Louis Armstrong's influence on jazz in New Orleans and New York; touring with Al Hirt, who gave Wynton his first trumpet; his son Wynton's early years and recognizing his brilliant trumpet playing; his involvement with the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts and his philosophy of developing the whole person; and the lack of importance of the arts in the Louisiana school system. He also plays piano on "New Orleans" by Hogie Carmichael, the song he feels most embodies New Orleans despite the fact that it was written by a man from Indiana.
Directors & creators
Louisiana Public Broadcasting
Subjects
public broadcasting, AAPB, Louisiana Legends, Louisiana, MUSIC, Jazz/Blues, African Americans, Civil Rights, Arts, Education, Marines
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