FILE - This April 28, 2019 file photo shows Ellis Marsalis during the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in New Orleans. The New Orleans Advocate says the 85-year-old Marsalis has told the Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro that he no longer wanted to play his usual Friday evening set. Instead, he'll make two monthly appearances as a “special guest" with other acts sitting in with him.
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Campbell announced Marsalis’ death in a news release Wednesday night. She did not specify a cause of death. He had continued to perform regularly in New OrleansBecause Marsalis opted to stay in New Orleans for most of his career, his reputation was limited until his sons became famous and brought him the spotlight, along with new recording contracts and headliner performances on television and on tour.
Harry Connick Jr., one of Marsalis’ students at the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts, was a guest. He is just one of the many now-famous jazz musicians who passed through the Marsalis classrooms; others include trumpeters Nicholas Payton and Terence Blanchard, saxophonists Donald Harrison and Victor Goines, and bassist Reginald Veal.
Ornette Coleman was in town at the time, and in 1956 when Coleman headed to California, Marsalis and the others went with him, but after a few months Marsalis came back home. He told the New Orleans Times-Picayune years later, when he and Coleman were old men, that he never did figure out what a pianist could do behind the free form of Coleman’s jazz.
Marsalis got into education about the same time, teaching improvisation at Xavier University in New Orleans, and in the mid-1970s joined the faculty at the New Orleans magnet high school where he influenced a new generation of young jazz musicians. Marsalis retired from UNO in 2001, but continued to perform, particularly at Snug Harbor in New Orleans, a small jazz club that anchored the city’s contemporary jazz scene — frequently backing young musicians who had promise.
RealDLHughley R.i.p The greatest
Heaven is a better place, Rest In Peace my father.
Ellis’s gentle yet steadfast approach to teaching young upstart musicians how to engage jazz music was a great inspiration to me as a newly minted faculty person 30 years ago.
JoshMankiewicz Another great lost to coronavirus. ☹️
So sad. He will be missed 🙏
😢
RealDLHughley GOD BLESS and GOD REST him
Another great musician lost.
😔🙏
PinkyDonaldson May he RIP
EllisMarsalisIII_RIP Wow prayers to his entire family! Sad that he had to be taken. His family is legend in music
So sad RIP 🙏
Baligubadle1 🥺
JustWhatNowWhy Sorry to hear this news.
Sad🥀
Condolences to the family. Rest In Paradise Sir Ellis Marsalis 🙏
IngridKMedia So saddened to hear of his passing. My condolences to his sons and all of his family. R.I.P sir 🙏
RIP. Donald Trump and his administration killed this man.
Jazz icon! May you keep playing and having a blast!
RIP ELLIS MARSALIS, OUR HEAVENLY FATHER HAS CALLED ANOTHER OF HIS FLOCK HOME
So sad.. and so sorry for the loss to this fabulous musical family
Oh my... thid is too much
My heart goes out to the whole Marsalis family. RIP Ellis
😥
Fought COVID19. RIP King.💕
JanetMcCinNO ruskygal This was an outstanding piece of writing! This was music journalism as obituary. Thank you, both. RIP Mr. Marsalis.
Huge loss for American music and the world! RIPellis
😔
A whole lot of walking history we just lost. God rest his soul&give comfort &faith 2his sons &allthose who willmiss him. 'Ellis Marsalis was a legend. He was a teacher, a father & an icon — & words aren’t sufficient 2 describe the art, the joy & the wonder he showed the world.”
A true legendary educator. RIP
🙏🏽 RIP
Respect.
Rest In Peace
😥 2020 sucks. RIP Sir Ellis ❤🎹
Watched him perform at the NOLA jazz fest in 2017. He was awesome. Rest In Peace Mr. Marsalis 🙏🏼
Kushbae112 💔😢
Such a loss of a true legend whose music and legacy will live on in each note flowing from his sons horns. wyntonmarsalis bmarsalis Delfeayo
What a terrible loss to the Jazz World. RIP Ellis Marsalis, you will be greatly missed. My heart & love go out to his family & loved ones.Hold those beautiful memories tight and close. I promise you they will be what helps you get through this tragic loss.
Covid-19?
Such an incredibly talented family of musicians. RIP. 😰
💔💔💔
sending deep soulful, jazzy condolences to wyntonmarsalis & all the family. 3
Very sad. His music will live on forever. A true legend. 😪
This is rough,he died from coronavirus.
2020 just can’t cut us a break, can it. The patriarch of New Orleans. Rest well.
🙏
🙌👏🙏🙇
You know you are a jazz legend when your death is announced by mayor of New Orleans
One of the GOAT families, all brilliant minds and players
😪 RestInSong ❤
Prayers !!! Respect !
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