Ellis, Marsalis, regarded by many as the best modern jazz pianist
in New Orleans, is the director of the jazz studies program in the
Department of Music at the University of New Orleans (UNO).
Born Nov. 14, 1934, he began formal studies at the Xavier
University Junior School of Music when he was eleven years old.
Marsalis graduated from Dillard University with a bachelor’s degree in
Music Education and earned a master’s degree in Music Education from
Loyola University in New Orleans.
Aside from UNO, Marsalis has taught at Xavier University, Loyola
University, and the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts. In addition
to nurturing the skills of the likes to trumpeter Terrance Blanchard,
saxophonist Donald Harrison, and pianist Harry Connick Jr., four of his
six sons — trumpeter Wynton, saxophonist Branford, trombonist
Delfeayo, and drummer Jason — have also gone on to distinguished
careers in music.
In December, Black Issues Staff Writer Ronald Roach traveled to New
Orleans to visit the birthplace of jazz and talk with one of the
medium’s most-respected teachers and performers. The following is
excerpted from the discussion.
Why was it important to establish a jazz performance program at the University of New Orleans?
Well, first of all, I was given the opportunity. The chancellor of
the university wanted that. It wasn’t something that I just decided to
do and create it myself. But I think that New Orleans is the best
learning town in the country, if not the world, as far as jazz is
concerned.
The nature of the economy here, as well as the laws that have been
established over many years, make it conducive for musicians to work.
For example, most places in most states say you cannot go into a bar,
buy a drink, and decide to leave and tell the bartender to give [you] a
cold cup and walk out the door with the drink in your hand. That kind
of a situation makes New Orleans unique for people who want to come
here to party.
