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The Marsalis Family at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia

It's a rare family line-up for Father's Day. The Marsalis sons -- Branford on saxes, Wynton on trumpet, Delfeayo on trombone, and Jason on drums -- perform together with their father, jazz pianist Ellis Marsalis, for a concert at the beautiful new Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia. And since there's no bass-playing Marsalis, Reginald Veal is on bass.

"They were able to make music work as a profession by playing what they choose to play."
        -- Ellis Marsalis on his sons

Each member of this great jazz clan has his own performing, recording and teaching career. However, they don't often have the opportunity to play together. The first occasion came in 2001 for a tribute concert in honor of Ellis upon his retirement from the music faculty of the University of New Orleans. Not surprisingly, the concert was a huge success, which lead to a CD, a DVD, a PBS special, and this national tour, bringing them to the Kimmel Center's Verizon Hall. Branford considers the venue to be best concert hall on the East Coast.

Funding for this show was provided by TIAA-CREF, applauding the Marsalises for their outstanding JazzSet performance. For over 80 years, TIAA-CREF has been managing money for people with other things to think about. On the web at tiaa-cref.org.

Funding was also provided by Da Capo Press, publisher of Jelly's Blues: The Life, Music, And Redemption Of Jelly Roll Morton, by Howard Reich and William Gaines. The biography of the virtuoso pianist and first composer of jazz is based on a recently-discovered collection of his personal papers. The book is available for purchase through amazon.com.


SONG LIST
"Twelve's It" (E. Marsalis)
"Jungle Blues" (F.J. Morton)
"After" (E. Marsalis)
"Hesitation" (W. Marsalis)
"Down Home with Homey" (W. Marsalis)
"Buddy Bolden's Blues" (F.J. Morton)

RESOURCES