Thursday, March 13, 2014

Wynton Marsalis on global musical mission

Wynton Marsalis and Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra. Photo by Frank Stewart
By George Varga11 A.M.MARCH 7, 2014
Wynton Marsalis is very familiar with the man who may well be one of his most consistent critics. His name is ... Wynton Marsalis.

“I hold myself to a standard, and I fall short of it,” said the New Orleans-bred trumpet star, band leader and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer. He performs a sold-out show March 15 at Balboa Theatre with his acclaimed Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, which is appearing here under the auspices of the La Jolla Music Society.

“At a concert last weekend, I messed up a part,” Marsalis, 52, elaborated. “I told myself: ‘Remember, this is a ragtime rhythm,’ and I messed up. We have a code in this band that the intention is (equivalent to) the amount of work you put into it. We’re human beings, so I’m a harsh critic. But I’m not going to go crazy. I’m a veteran. I’m not trying to prove I can be out here; I’m trying to prove my intention is always pure and that I can give all that I can. And I’ll let my commitment speak for itself.

“I had a teacher who said: ‘Always be gratified and never satisfied.’ Without dissatisfaction, there is no progress, But without satisfaction, there is no satisfaction. I tend to be very Zen about it. I accept failure and success. Sometimes, you fall short of yourself. But playing music is a blessing, and I’m committed to it.”

His commitment to music dates back to 1967, when — for his sixth birthday — Marsalis received a trumpet from Al Hirt, a family friend.
Read more: http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/mar/07/wynton-marsalis-interview/

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