Ellis Marsalis, Jr.

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Ellis Marsalis (born November 14, 1934, New Orleans, LA) is an American musician. He is considered one of the premier pianists in modern jazz. Ellis Marsalis is the son of the late Ellis Marsalis, Sr., a businessman and social activist. Ellis and wife Delores have 6 sons.

He started out as a tenor saxophonist, switching to piano while in high school. From his first professional performance with "The Groovy Boys" over fifty years ago, Ellis Marsalis has been a major influence in jazz. At that time, Marsalis was one of the few New Orleans musicians who did not specialize in Dixieland or rhythm and blues. He played with fellow modernists including Cannonball Adderley, Nat Adderley, and Al Hirt, becoming one of the most respected pianists in jazz. Though he has recorded almost twenty of his own albums, and was featured on many discs with such jazz greats as David “Fathead” Newman, Eddie Harris, Marcus Roberts, and Courtney Pine, he shunned the spotlight to focus on teaching.

As a leading educator at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts and Xavier University of Louisiana, Ellis has influenced the careers of countless musicians, including Terence Blanchard, Harry Connick Jr., Nicholas Payton, and his four musician sons: Wynton, Branford, Delfeayo and Jason.

[edit] Partial discography

2005 An Evening With The Ellis Marsalis Quartet - Set 1 - Recorded LIVE at Snug Harbor - Ellis Marsalis (piano), Derek Douget (tenor/soprano saxophones), Bill Huntington (bass), Jason Marsalis (drums)Image:EllisBranfordMarsalis.jpg
2005 Ruminations in New York - Ellis Marsalis (solo piano)
2004 On The First Occasion - Ellis Marsalis (piano), Bill Huntington (bass), Jason Marsalis (drums
2003 The GIG - LIVE At Snug Harbor - Ellis Marsalis (piano), Bill Huntigton (bass), Jason Marsalis (drums)
2003 Afternoon Session August 17th 1968 Sparks Nevada - Ellis Marsalis (piano), Jim Haden (bass), Lee Charlton (drums), John Peirce (alto sax), Chuck Foster (trumpet)
2002 Jazz At Christmas In New Orleans - Ellis Marsalis (piano), Bill Huntington (bass violin), Jason Marsalis (drum set & percussion, vibraphone), Cynthia Liggins Thomas (vocal)
2002 Marsalis Family - A Jazz Celebration [1] - Ellis Marsalis (piano), Branford Marsalis (saxophones), Delfeayo Marsalis (trombone), Jason Marsalis (drums), Roland Guerin (bass). Special Guests: Harry Connick, Jr. (piano), Lucien Barbarin (trombone)
1999 Duke In Blue - Ellis Marsalis (solo piano) Image:EllisJasonMarsalis.jpg
1999 Solo Piano Reflections - Ellis Marsalis (solo piano) - (Original Release Date: 1978)
1998 Twelve's It - Ellis Marsalis (piano); Roland Guerin, Bill Huntington (bass); Jason Marsalis (drums)
1997 Syndrome - Ellis Marsalis (piano), Bill Huntington (acoustic bass), James Black (drums), Guest Artist: Kent Jordan
1996 Loved Ones [2] - Ellis Marsalis (piano), Branford Marsalis (saxophone)
1995 Joe Cool's Blues - Wynton Marsalis Septet: Wynton Marsalis (trumpet); Wessell Anderson (alto & soprano saxophones); Victor Gaines (tenor saxophone, clarinet); Wycliffe Gordon (trombone); Eric Reed (piano); Benjamin Wolfe (acoustic bass); Herlin Riley (drums). Ellis Marsalis Trio: Ellis Marsalis (piano); Reginald Veal (bass); Martin Butler (drums). Additional personnel: Germaine Bazzle (vocals); Branford Marsalis (tenor saxophone); Tom Peterson (baritone saxophone); Chuck Findley (trumpet); Delfeayo Marsalis (trombone).
1995 A Night At Snug Harbor, New Orleans - Ellis Marsalis (piano), Bill Huntington (bass), David Lee Jr. (drums), Tony Dagradi (tenor, soprano sax), Rick Margitza (tenor sax), Art Blakely (drums), Donald Harrison (tenor sax), Nicholas Payton (trumpet) Image:EllisWyntonMarsalis.jpg
1994 Whistle Stop - Ellis Marsalis (piano); Branford Marsalis (tenor & soprano saxophones); Robert Hurst (acoustic bass); Jeff "Tain" Watts, Jason Marsalis (drums)
1992 Heart Of Gold - Ellis Marsalis (piano), Ray Brown (bass), Billy Higgins (drums)
1991 Piano in E - Solo Piano - Ellis Marsalis (solo piano)
1991 The Classic/Ellis Marsalis - Ellis Marsalis (piano), James Black (drums), Nathaniel Perrilliat (saxophone), Marshall Smith (bass) - (Original Release Date: 1963)
1991 Ellis Marsalis Trio - Ellis Marsalis (piano), Robert Hurst (bass), Jeff "Tain" Watts (drums)
1990 Standard Time, Vol.3: The Resolution Of Romance - Wynton Marsalis (vocals, trumpet); Ellis Marsalis (piano); Reginald Veal (bass); Herlin Riley (drums)
2006 Standad Time, Vol.3: It's My Life - Penny Munn (vocals, Digerydoo); Charlie Shire (Vocals, Triangle)