Delfeayo Marsalis and The Uptown Jazz Orchestra w/Opening Act-New Breed Brass Band
Category: Event Calendar
Date and Time
- Sunday, Jan 19, 2025 7:30pm - 10pm
Location
Rialto Theatre
318 E Congress St
Details
In 2007, NEA Jazz Master and Grammy Award winning trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis formed the Uptown Jazz Orchestra (UJO) for the purpose of keeping important jazz music traditions alive; such as riff-playing, spontaneous group improvisations, and collective New Orleans instrumental polyphony. At the time, Marsalis realized that the New Orleans music community was lacking the infusion of young homegrown talent outside of the great brass band tradition, and chose to form an orchestra that could present traditional, classic, and modern compositions. with authenticity. Since that time, UJO has grown into one of the premier large ensembles in the world, releasing three CDs to critical acclaim, and touring locally, nationally, and internationally.
In 2008, Marsalis founded the educational program, “Swinging with the Cool School” (a soft introduction to jazz for hip tots and adults), which was used as an experimental form of music therapy at the New Orleans Children Hospital. The Cool School has since expanded to introduce live instrumental jazz to students around the country, with the intent of helping young people develop a relationship with music that has gradually disappeared from mainstream radio and media at large. Through these performances, UJO is able to introduce students (and adults) to the wide emotional range of instrumental music.
Since 2021, UJO has produced the annual Jazz at Congo Square Festival (JACS) to celebrate New Orleans culture by presenting live performances of musicians, poets, dancers, and Black Masking Indians to local and visiting audiences. JACS Festival also features local food, arts & craft vendors. Marsalis and the Uptown Jazz Orchestra plan to continue using the great legacy of American music to engage and hopefully inspire the younger generations for many years.
NEW BREED BRASS BAND
On Made In New Orleans, New Breed Brass Band presents a brand of second line music in conversation with everything from Caribbean music to No Limit Records to modern R&B in the vein of Bruno Mars and Anderson Paak’s Silk Sonic. Guest appearances — including from local legends Kango Slim, Wild Wayne, and the late great 5th Ward Weebie, as well as Dave Matthews Band saxophonist Jeff Coffin — deepen the exuberant chaos. It’s joyful and vital and distinctly of the moment — music for and by New Orleans’ next generation.
Though the young musicians were ensconced in second line culture — band leader Jenard Andrews’ father is the great trumpeter James Andrews, and his uncle is Trombone Shorty, the New Orleans scene lynchpin — it took something of an intervention to help them find their own sound.
Says Jenard: “In New Orleans, everyone starts out as a Rebirth cover band until you find your thing. We were jamming out on some Rebirth stuff at Trombone Shorty’s studio. Shorty comes in and gives it to us straight: “This isn’t practicing, you’re just jamming on some Rebirth. You’ve gotta find your own thing.”
Trombone Shorty began coaching them up, and their sound took shape: The rhythmic versatility of the local jazz and funk scenes — as well New Orleans hip-hop from Cash Money to bounce — fused with second line culture to create something distinctly theirs. As Jenard puts it: “We wanted to get real New Orleans street on them.”
Audiences took notice. They toured North America and Europe, and opened for The Fray, Blackalicious, Dr. John, and eventually Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue.
With Made In New Orleans, New Breed Brass Band forge a new path for 21st century second lines — it’s just up to listeners to follow their lead down the parade route.
