Delfeayo Marsalis
Delfeayo Marsalis
Trombone
New Orleans native Delfeayo Marsalis began studying trombone at age 13, and attended the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts high school. He was classically trained at the Eastern Music Festival and Tanglewood Institute.
After producing his first recording at age 17, Delfeayo attended the prestigious Berklee College of Music, majoring in both performance and audio production. He has since produced over 75 major-label recordings-several of which have received Grammy awards and nominations-including works by: Harry Connick, Jr., Marcus Roberts, Spike Lee, Ellis, Branford and Wynton Marsalis. His production skills earned a 3M Visionary Award in 1996 and a cover article in Mix magazine in 1997, and most recently he was named, along the Marsalis family, New Orleans' venerable first family of jazz, an NEA Jazz Master for 2011.
A mainstay on the New Orleans modern jazz scene, he has released three solo albums to critical acclaim, Pontius Pilate’s Decision in 1992, Musashi in 1997, and Minions Dominion in 2006. He was also recently featured in the Ken Burns documentary film Jazz.
Delfeayo has been involved with educating youth in various developmental programs for many years. In 1993, his original D-Blues was commissioned by “Meet the Composer” for the Filmore Arts Center in Washington DC and in 1995 he lectured in public and parochial schools on behalf of both the Dallas Opera and the Bravo cable network. To further introduce young people to jazz music, he served as director of the Foundation for Artistic and Musical Excellence summer program in Lawrenceville, NJ from 1998 to 2002.
In 2004, Delfeayo earned a Master of Arts degree in jazz performance at the University of Louisville. In addition to implementing Uptown Music Theatre’s Kidstown After School in three New Orleans grammar schools in 2009, he will soon release a new CD entitled Sweet Thunder, an Ellington suite inspired by the literary works of William Shakespeare.
In addition to his active performing and recording career, Delfeayo is a dedicated educator. To introduce young people to jazz, he has served as director of the Foundation for Artistic and Musical Excellence summer program in Lawrenceville, NJ, and implemented the Kidstown After School Program in three New Orleans grammar schools last year.
In addition to Mr. Marsalis's master class for Jazz Campers, he'll give an evening concert, “Jazz is Cool” A Salon with the Great Delfeayo Marsalis. For details visit our calendar page here.
