Tonight, Kingsbury Hall will host one of the world’s most renowned and celebrated musicians, Wynton Marsalis. Performing with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, the Pulitzer Prize-winning musician looks to fill the hall with what many critics call the finest music of our time.
Marsalis’ list of accomplishments include the Pulitzer Prize for music in 1997, nine Grammy awards and the designation “Messenger of Peace” by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan.
However, perhaps more important is Marsalis’ impact on jazz music in America. As an artist, Marsalis brought jazz back to the forefront of American culture with his innovative and brilliant recordings, performances and programs.
Marsalis was born into the rich musical scene of New Orleans in 1961. He began his classical training on the trumpet when he was 12 years old and gained experience by playing with various blues, jazz and funk bands throughout the area.
Marsalis entered the prestigious Julliard School in 1979, and was immediately recognized as one of the star pupils of the school.
During the next 20 years, Marsalis engaged in an extremely busy schedule completely revolving around writing, performing and recording music.
In 1983, he became the first artist to ever win a classical and jazz Grammy Awards in a single year-a feat he repeated in 1984.
Currently the music director of the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Marsalis is able to commission the group of musicians to play the new works he writes.
Consequently, the orchestra is among the most exciting to watch in the world because of its constant musical evolution.
Tonight’s concert could bring anything, as the set list is generated on the spot at the time of performance. The only certainty is Marsalis’ ability to create and deliver mesmerizing jazz.