I turned CNN on last night and noticed two familiar faces: Don Lemon was interviewing Branford Marsalis, a leading jazz composer and brother to Wynton, another highly accomplished and recognized musician. Branford’s father, Ellis, has died as a result of covid19.
I am not a musician, but I love music. In particular, I love jazz music. I was introduced to Branford Marsalis while I was in middle school. My uncle Juancho drove from Paramus to meet my father and I to attend a Branford performance in South Bethlehem, PA. My memory is that his band’s energy, frenetic and syncopated, contrasted with Branford’s cooly intelligent and easy going personality. I loved that show.
I discovered Wynton Marsalis shortly thereafter. I bought one of his compact discs, Thick in the South, around that time. I listened to the tracks Harriet Tubman, Elveen, and So, this is Jazz, huh? on repeat for so many evenings… As I have grown older, I have followed Wynton’s career casually. Whether he is interviewing a fellow professional musician or being interviewed by Alec Baldwin, talking about Dizzy Gillespie or Jazz at Lincoln Center, thinking out loud about American culture or music education, he speaks with powerful and precise language, clarity of thoughts, conviction, and humor. His presence is… special.
A few months ago, while driving in my car, I listened to a recent interview on WNYC, where Wynton described his relationship with his father. His admiration for his father, as a man, as well as a musician, was palpable. As I drove, I felt tears well up when he talked about instances where his father would share his own admiration for Wynton’s growth as a musician. The account was both sweet and funny.
Ellis Marsalis, Jr. was born November 14, 1934. He passed away April 1, 2020. His legacy includes six sons, some wonderful stories, and so much music. I am hopeful the strength the family finds during this time matches the level of cooly intelligent and easy going composure demonstrated by Branford last night with Don Lemon. I never met Ellis Marsalis, Jr., yet I am quite certain the Marsalis family, and the rest of us, lost someone… special.