Jason Marsalis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jason Marsalis
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Marsalis in 2010
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| Background information | |
| Born | March 4, 1977 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 jazz drums and the vibraphone. He is also a composer, producer, and band leader. Jason is part of the famous Marsalis family, known for their amazing music. He is the youngest son of Dolores Ferdinand Marsalis and the late Ellis Marsalis, Jr..
Contents
Jason Marsalis's Musical Journey
Growing Up in a Musical Family
Jason Marsalis was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. His father, Ellis Marsalis, Jr., was a famous jazz pianist and music teacher. Jason has five brothers: Branford Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Ellis Marsalis III, Delfeayo Marsalis, and Mboya Kenyatta. Branford, Wynton, and Delfeayo are also well-known jazz musicians.
Early Music Lessons and Education
When Jason was just 6 years old, he started taking drum lessons. His teacher was the legendary New Orleans drummer James Black. As a teenager, Jason made his first recording. This was on his brother Delfeayo Marsalis's album Pontius Pilate’s Decision in 1992.
Jason went to the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA). He also studied percussion at Loyola University New Orleans.
Playing with Different Bands
Jason Marsalis has played with many different music groups. He has been a sideman, which means he plays with other main musicians. He played in jazz, funk, and jazz fusion bands. He also played in a Brazilian percussion group called Casa Samba. Jason even played Celtic music with Beth Patterson.
He helped start the band Los Hombres Calientes with trumpeter Irvin Mayfield and percussionist Bill Summers. Jason has also performed with John Ellis and Dr. Michael White. Of course, he often plays with his own family, the Marsalis Family. Jason performs regularly 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 only 17, he toured with the Marcus Roberts Trio. They played songs from Roberts' album Gershwin for Lovers. Jason continues to play with Marcus Roberts today. He is part of the trio and Roberts' Modern Jazz Generation band.
A music critic once praised Jason's drumming. He said Jason made a simple drum pattern become very complex. This made the audience cheer during a concert at Carnegie Hall.
Jason's Albums as a Leader
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 "vivacious" 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." He noted that Jason showed off his drumming skills easily, playing many different styles.
In 2009, Jason released his first album playing the vibraphone as the main instrument. This album, Music Update, got great reviews. DownBeat magazine gave it 4.5 out of 5 stars. A critic from The New York Times said Jason was an "excellent musician" trying something new and exciting.
In 2013, he released another vibraphone album, In a World of Mallets. This was with his group, the 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 reached number 1 on the JazzWeek chart.
The New Orleans Groovemasters
Jason Marsalis also plays drums with Herlin Riley and Shannon Powell. They are known as The New Orleans Groovemasters. In 2020, Jason's father, Ellis Marsalis, Jr., joined them for a few songs. This was at the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music in New Orleans. It was one of Ellis Marsalis's last public performances before he passed away.
Jason Marsalis's Mallets
Jason Marsalis even has his own special drum mallets! They are called the Jason Marsalis Signature Series Vibe Mallets. They were designed just for the vibraphone by Marimba One. Jason is an artist for Marimba One and plays their One Vibe instrument.
Jason Marsalis in Film
Concert Films
In 2003, Jason Marsalis performed with the Marcus Roberts Trio and the Berlin Philharmonic orchestra. This concert was in Berlin, Germany. It was later released on Blu-Ray and DVD in 2021. The video also includes a short film about the concert. It shows rehearsals and interviews with Jason and other musicians.
Documentary Films
Jason is featured in Tradition is a Temple: The Modern Masters of New Orleans. This 2013 film is about musicians from New Orleans.
In 2022, a film called Music Pictures: New Orleans premiered. Jason performed after the premiere. This documentary is about older, master musicians from New Orleans. Jason's father, Ellis Marsalis, Jr., is featured in the film. It shows Jason and his father recording music together. It also shows one of his father's last live shows.
Jason and his family are also in the 2023 Grammy award-winning film Jazz Fest: A New Orleans Story. This film shows Ellis Marsalis playing with his sons Jason, Branford, Wynton, and Delfeayo. This was at the 2019 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. It might have been the last time the Marsalis family played together publicly. Jason also shared a memory of meeting Miles Davis at the festival when he was eight years old.
Personal Life
Jason Marsalis was raised in the Catholic faith.
Awards and Honors
National Endowment for the Arts
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 Marsalis has won several awards from OffBeat magazine. These are called the Best of The Beat Awards.
| Year | Category | Work nominated | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Best Drummer | Won | ||
| 2013 | Best Contemporary Jazz Album | In a World of Mallets | Won | |
| 2018 | Best Contemporary Jazz Band or Performer | Won | ||
| 2023 | Best Other Instrumentalist (for vibraphone) | Won |
Selected Music Albums
Here are some of the albums Jason Marsalis has released:
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
Jason Marsalis has played on many albums for other musicians. Here are a few examples:
- 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
