Wynton Marsalis and the Essentially Ellington Jazz Festival

Wynton Marsalis and the Essentially Ellington Jazz Festival have been an incredible musical combination for 15 years. Beginning in 1996, Marsalis has been the prime mover of this amazing high school jazz band competition that has drawn interest from young musicians and their directors in all fifty states. While there is an underlying competition that goes on at the Jazz at Lincoln Center's Frederick P. Rose Hall each year, more to the point there is tremendous camaraderie among young musicians who share a common love for jazz.

Over the last 4 decades Wynton Marsalis has gradually become a modern American music phenomenon. He has had incredible success in every aspect of the Jazz world as composer, band leader and performer. But what has also drawn attention to Wynton Marsalis is his willingness to give back to others. That generosity of spirit was evident in his fund-raising organization and success after Hurricane Katrina and in this work as a U. N Messenger of Peace. Wynton Marsalis has established himself internationally as a great musician with an equally great heart for people.

Not the least of Marsalis efforts on behalf of others has been the exemplary way he has given back to young musicians who see him as a model for the fulfillment of their hopes and dreams. Marsalis consistently has demonstrated his support for young musicians by organizing and serving as the artistic director for the Essentially Ellington Jazz Festival at Jazz at the Lincoln Center for the last 15 years with extraordinary results.

Each year interested high school bands can receive charts for numbers by Dukie Ellington and other major jazz composers. Directors then determine whether or not their band is prepared to forward a recording of the required numbers to a judging panel in New York. The judges review all entries, and produce a list of 15 finalists based on their taped performances.. Then the fun begins.

Each of the fifteen winners receives a workshop with a professional musician to help them as they prepare for the New York City competition. Coming to New York means a chance for high school participants to spend three days with jazz artists and lots of high school students who love jazz. The final competition requires a live performance of several selected jazz pieces. In the end 3 bands are chosen as finalists and each school receives a financial prize to be used towards the development of their school music programs. More exciting for the winning bands, each gets to play with Wynton Marsalis. For young, struggling 14-18 year olds this is nothing short of incredible!

The stunning realization is that honestly there is no reason why one of the greatest modern day jazz musicians has to do any of this, or so obviously thrive on it. He could be off making serious money performing, directing or writing music. There really are other things he could be doing with his time.

But for Wynton Marsalis there are other less self centered goals. The goal of Essentially Ellington is clearly to spread an appreciation of jazz nation wide. Assessments made by Jazz at Lincoln Center are that in all this program has touched some 5,000 schools who have applied over the years along with some 300,000 students
With the help of scores of professionals Wynton Marsalis and Essentially Ellington have shared their joy in playing jazz with a whole new generation of American musicians.

Wynton Marsalis will long be remembered as a top American Jazz Musician but through his efforts in producing the Essentially Ellington Jazz Festival he will also be remembered as a top notch Jazz educator and a friend of young jazz musicians.

Sources

www.wyntonmarsalis.org/biography
www.jalc.org