Jason Marsalis facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jason Marsalis
Marsalis in 2010
Background information
Born	(1977-03-04) March 4, 1977 (age 48) New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Genres	Jazz
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Drums, vibraphone
Years active	1990-present
Labels	Basin Street
Associated acts	Marsalis Family, Los Hombres Calientes, Marcus Roberts

Jason Marsalis, born on March 4, 1977, is a talented American musician. He plays the drums and the vibraphone. Jason is also a composer, producer, and leads his own bands. He is part of the famous Marsalis family, known for their amazing jazz music. Jason is the youngest son of Dolores Ferdinand Marsalis and the late Ellis Marsalis, Jr., who was also a very important musician.

Jason Marsalis's Musical Journey

Jason Marsalis was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. His father, Ellis Louis Marsalis, Jr., was a pianist and music teacher. Jason has five brothers: Branford Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Ellis Marsalis III, Delfeayo Marsalis, and Mboya Kenyatta. Three of his brothers, Branford, Wynton, and Delfeayo, are also well-known jazz musicians.

Early Musical Training

When Jason was just 6 years old, he started taking drum lessons. His teacher was the legendary New Orleans drummer James Black. Jason made his first recording when he was a teenager. This was on his brother Delfeayo Marsalis's album, Pontius Pilate’s Decision, released in 1992.

Jason went to the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA). He also studied percussion at Loyola University New Orleans. He played drums for many different types of music groups. These included mainstream jazz, funk, and jazz fusion bands. He also played with a Brazilian percussion group called Casa Samba. Jason even played Celtic music with Beth Patterson.

Forming Los Hombres Calientes

Jason introduced percussionist Bill Summers to trumpeter Irvin Mayfield. Together, they started a band called Los Hombres Calientes. Jason has also performed with other great musicians like John Ellis and Dr. Michael White. Of course, he often plays with his own family, the Marsalis family. Jason regularly performs at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

Working with Marcus Roberts

Jason Marsalis has worked closely with pianist Marcus Roberts for a long time. In 1994, when Jason was 17, he toured with the Marcus Roberts Trio. They played songs from Roberts' album Gershwin for Lovers. Jason continues to perform with Marcus Roberts today. He is a member of the Marcus Roberts Trio and Robert's Modern Jazz Generation.

A music critic once praised Jason's drumming during a concert at Carnegie Hall. The critic said Jason's drumming was unique and exciting. He even made a simple drum pattern become so complex that it made the audience cheer!

Jason's Own Albums

When Jason was 21, he released his first album as a band leader. It was called The Year of the Drummer. Critics said his music was lively and full of fresh ideas.

His second album, Music in Motion, came out in 2000. A writer for the Los Angeles Times called it "impressive." They noted how easily Jason showed off his drumming skills in different styles. The album cover shows Jason standing on train tracks in New Orleans.

In 2009, Jason released his first album where he was the main player on the vibraphone. This album was called Music Update. It received high praise from DownBeat magazine. A critic from The New York Times said Jason was an "excellent musician" who was brave enough to try new things.

In 2013, Jason released his second vibraphone album, In a World of Mallets. He played with his Jason Marsalis Vibes Quartet. On this album, Jason played many different mallet instruments. These included the marimba, glockenspiel, tubular bells, vibraphone, and xylophone. The album became very popular, reaching #1 on the JazzWeek chart. A review in JazzTimes said the album showed how much Jason had grown as a vibraphone player.

The New Orleans Groovemasters

Jason Marsalis also plays with two other drummers, Herlin Riley and Shannon Powell. They are known as The New Orleans Groovemasters. In 2020, Jason's father, Ellis Louis Marsalis, Jr., joined them for a few songs at the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music in New Orleans. This performance was very special because Ellis Marsalis passed away shortly after.

Jason's Signature Mallets

Jason Marsalis has his own line of vibraphone mallets. These are special sticks used to play the vibraphone. They were designed by Marimba One, a company that makes musical instruments. Jason is a Marimba One artist and plays their One Vibe instrument.

Jason Marsalis in Films

Jason Marsalis has appeared in several films. These films often highlight his musical talent and the rich jazz history of New Orleans.

Concert Films

In 2003, Jason performed with the Marcus Roberts Trio and the Berlin Philharmonic orchestra. This concert was led by conductor Seiji Ozawa in Berlin. The performance was later released on Blu-Ray and DVD in 2021. The video also includes a short film about how the concert came to be. It features interviews with Jason, Seiji Ozawa, and Marcus Roberts.

Documentaries

Jason is featured in Tradition is a Temple: The Modern Masters of New Orleans. This 2013 documentary is about the amazing musicians of New Orleans.

In 2022, a documentary called Music Pictures: New Orleans premiered. Jason performed after the premiere. This film is about older, master musicians from New Orleans. Jason's father, Ellis Marsalis, Jr., is a big part of this film. The documentary shows Jason and his father recording music together. It also shows one of his father's last live performances at Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro.

A Grammy award-winning film from 2023, Jazz Fest: A New Orleans Story, also features Jason. It shows his father, Ellis Marsalis, playing with his sons Jason, Branford, Wynton, and Delfeayo. This happened at the 2019 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. At the time, Ellis was 84 years old. This might have been the last time all the Marsalis family musicians played together in public. Jason and his brothers were interviewed for the film. Jason shared a memory of meeting the famous musician Miles Davis when he was only eight years old at Jazz Fest.

Personal Life

Jason Marsalis was raised in the Catholic faith.

Awards and Honors

Jason Marsalis has received several important awards for his music.

NEA Jazz Masters

In 2011, Jason Marsalis and his brothers Branford, Wynton, and Delfeayo were honored. Their father, Ellis, was also honored. They were all named NEA Jazz Masters. This is a very high honor for jazz musicians in the United States.

OffBeat Magazine Awards

Jason has won several "Best of The Beat Awards" from OffBeat magazine. This magazine focuses on music from New Orleans and Louisiana.

Selected Music Albums

Here are some of the albums Jason Marsalis has released, either as a leader or playing with other musicians.

Jason Marsalis, Aarhus, Denmark (2009)

As the Main Artist

• Music for Meditation and Relaxation, Vol. 2 (2023)
• Music for Meditation and Relaxation, Vol. 1 (2022)
• Jason Marsalis Live (2020)
• Jason Marsalis & The 21st Century Trad Band - Melody Reimagined:book 1 (2017)
• Heirs Of The Crescent City (2016)
• Jason Marsalis Vibes Quartet - The 21st Century Trad Band (2014)
• Jason Marsalis Vibes Quartet - In a World of Mallets (2013)
• Music Update (2009)
• Music in Motion (2000)
• The Year of the Drummer (1998)

As a Co-Leader

• Los Hombres Calientes – Vol. 2 (2000)
• Los Hombres Calientes – Los Hombres Calientes (1998)

Playing with Other Artists

• Trumpet Mafia - Dippy (2024)
• Mahmoud Chouki - Caravan -- From Marrakech to New Orleans (2024)
• John Ellis Quartet - Bizet: Carmen in Jazz (2023)
• Judith Owen – Winter Wonderland (Holiday Edition) (2023)
• Christian Fabian Trio – Hip To The Skip (2023)
• Andy Page Quartet - Mobius (2023)
• Patrick S. Noonan – Beat Nouveau (2022)
• Outer Park – Blood from an Orange (2022)
• Judith Owen – Come On and Get It (2022)
• Daniel Hope - America (2022)
• Outer Park – Whole Lotta Orange (2021)
• Ellis Marsalis with Jason Marsalis - For All We Know (2020)
• Masakowski Family - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (2020)
• John Ellis - All Things Bright (2020)
• Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra featuring Wynton Marsalis - A Swingin’ Sesame Street Celebration (2020)
• Lionel Hampton Big Band featuring Jason Marsalis - Live at Rossmoor (2019)
• Outer Park – 1968 (slight return) (2019)
• Norbert Susemihl's Joyful Gumbo – Featuring Chloe Feoranzo & Jason Marsalis (2018)
• Live at Little Gem Saloon : Basin Street Records celebrates 20 years (2018)
• Kermit Ruffins & Irvin Mayfield – A Beautiful Celebration (2017)
• Jon Batiste - Christmas with Jon Batiste (2016)
• Fredrik Kronkvist - Monk Vibes (2015)
• Ellis Marsalis Trio - On the Second Occasion (2014)
• The Native Jazz Quartet - Stories (2013)
• Ellis Marsalis Trio - On the First Occasion (2013)
• New Orleans Brass Revue - A tribute to Hoagy (2013)
• Bela Fleck and the Marcus Roberts Trio - Across the Imaginary Divide (2012)
• Norbert Susemihl – Night on Frenchmen Street (2012)
• Ellis Marsalis - A New Orleans Christmas Carol (2011)
• John Ellis & Double-Wide - Puppet Mischief (2010)
• The Marsalis Family – Music Redeems (2010)
• Scan-Am Quartet - Atlantic Bridges (2010)
• Stephen Riley – El Gaucho (2010)
• Oran Etkin Wake Up Clarinet! (2010)
• Tim Laughlin - A Royal St Serenade (2009)
• Norbert Susemihl's New Orleans All Stars – Live at Maribo Jazzfestival-Denmark (2008)
• Ellis Marsalis Quartet - An open letter to Thelonious (2008)
• Neal Caine – Backstabber's Ball (2006)
• Jonathan Batiste - Times in New Orleans (2005)
• Troy Andrews Quintet - The end of the beginning (2005)
• Branford Marsalis - Romare Bearden Revealed (2003)
• The Marsalis Family – A Jazz Celebration (2003)
• Tim Laughlin - The Ilse of Orleans (2003)
• John Ellis (saxophonist) – Roots, Branches & Leaves (2002)
• Ellis Marsalis - May your Christmas be bright: jazz at Christmas in New Orleans (2002)
• Marcus Roberts Trio – Cole After Midnight (2001)
• Roland Guerin – You Don't Have to See It to Believe It (2000)
• David Morgan Trio – Live at the Blue Note (1999)
• Marcus Roberts Trio – In Honor of Duke (1999)
• The Ellis Marsalis Trio – Twelve's It (1998)
• Marcus Roberts – Blues for the New Millennium (1997)
• Karen Walwyn – Dark Fires (20th Century Music For Piano) (1997)
• Marcus Roberts – Time and Circumstance (1996)
• Harold Battiste – Harold Battiste presents Next Generation (1996)
• Ellis Marsalis – Whistle Stop (1994)

See also

In Spanish: Jason Marsalis para niños