Wynton Marsalis: Encyclopedia II - Wynton Marsalis - Music

Wynton Marsalis - Music

The music of Marsalis was part of a movement during the early 1990s countering the perceived excesses of free jazz and fusion. During this period, the styles of Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker and early jazz masters were studied and revitalized. This reinterpretation of earlier music has helped preserve earlier traditions within the genre.

Marsalis's musicianship, his command of jazz history, and outspoken advocacy of the music brought him to the fore of this group of "Young Lions," as they'd come to be called, who sought to return jazz to its more melodic, swing roots. Critics such as Tom Piazza of the New York Times felt that these young musicians were overhyped and the movement countered artistic progress. However, he and others believed the movement nonetheless would be the beginning of a new era in jazz. (Southern 573—574)

Marsalis, by recording both classical and jazz albums, pointed out the importance of the connection of the two genres; some black classical composers of the 1980s–90s, like Marsalis, were jazz musicians during their careers. (Southern 576) The movement connecting jazz and classical music had already begun during the early twentieth century with Ravel, Debussy, and most prominently Gershwin. Avant-garde and jazz composers have become sometimes indistinguishable as the former began to use jazz tonalities and as jazz drew upon the serial techniques and other elements of the classicists, with the most important emphasis in both being the improvisational or quasi-improvisational style. In a 1990 TIME magazine interview on the subject, Marsalis provided his insights:

"Jazz is the primary art form....When it's played properly, it shows you how the individual can negotiate the greatest amount of personal freedom and put it humbly at the service of a group connection" (Southern 577)

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Music", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki