Wynton Marsalis goes blue

Submitted by harmon40 on October 14th, 2022 at 2:09 PM

Hadn’t seen anyone comment on this, but possibly the greatest trumpet player of all time is going blue at the halftime show this week. Wynton Marsalis and his crew from Lincoln Center will be joining the MMB:

https://youtu.be/Cwxq_U3I7wE

Toward the end of the video, he says “I hope we win the game…” Since he said “we,” I am going to go ahead and claim Wynton as a Michigan man and fan. Welcome aboard, Wynton!!
 

Leaders. Best.

MRunner73

October 14th, 2022 at 2:13 PM ^

I wonder if he'll get to do a brief solo during the halftime show and that would be cool.

BTW, another great trumpet player from back in day was Maynard Ferguson. (This could start a whole new thread)

TruBluMich

October 14th, 2022 at 2:26 PM ^

Glad you said something because now I can act like I know who this is when my wife, who is a SUPER music fan, gets excited at halftime. (this might come across as sarcastic, but I'm serious, she's going to love this).

harmon40

October 14th, 2022 at 2:40 PM ^

Here is a tidbit you can throw at her: 

In 1983 Wynton became the first (and, to date, still only) musician ever to win Grammys for classical and jazz albums in the same year. He was 21 years old.
He repeated this feat in 1984. 

He is also the only artist ever to win Grammys in five consecutive years (‘83-‘87).

MMBbones

October 14th, 2022 at 2:30 PM ^

Carl Grapentine shared this on Facebook, I believe. Wonderful to have such a talent.

It's such a big venue, however, that it is hard for any one soloist to be heard beyond the home sideline. Hopefully he will "cheat" and have some amplification so he can be heard throughout the facility.

Ballislife

October 14th, 2022 at 2:31 PM ^

As a former MMB Trumpet, I'm super excited for this week's halftime show. Wynton is one of my all time favorite players, and I'm very jealous/proud of the current members who get to perform with him. The band provided me with countless memories during my time on campus; this one will go down in the books for those currently there. 

matty blue

October 14th, 2022 at 2:47 PM ^

band aficionados, help me out here...didn't the lincoln center jazz band perform with the MMB sometime in the last decade or so?  marsalis wasn't there, but i seem to recall a really good show

Zoltanrules

October 14th, 2022 at 3:10 PM ^

Huge fan of Wynton's! It should be a great halftime show.

Feel blessed to be going to see All Rise tonight and the Lincoln Center Orchestra Sunday.

My hope for any student on campus is to see as many UMS events as you can, especially if it's something outside what you normally listen to. Cheap student priced tickets are usually available.

I had the fortune of seeing Ella Fitzgerald my first year on campus and it just blew my mind. 

Zoltanrules

October 14th, 2022 at 3:48 PM ^

Lucky you! Those are legends! It's just so great to see live performances after Covid. I don't take them for granted anymore and try to make an extra effort to take in all that A2 has to offer.

For anyone interested, this Wednesday one of the world's best young musicians, Sheku Kanneh-Mason, who stole the show, at Meghan and Harry's royal wedding, will be playing this concerto at Hill with the same orchestra:

https://youtu.be/lNVe_1Eb5dw?t=15

Like Marsalis, he plays many different types of music from Gershwin to Bob Marley.

 

itauditbill

October 14th, 2022 at 3:53 PM ^

My first ever classical music concert and concert on the U of M campus, was in 1988 when Leonard Bernstein and the Vienna Philharmonic came to Hill Auditorium. I was in the MMB for one year, (only a reserve). But the night before was the Band-o-Rama. Members of the Vienna Phil. were in the front row of the balcony at Hill. Very cool. So me being rather ignorant of how things would work planned on getting down their for rush tickets at like 6 am. The rush tickets were only $10 for the very special 75th Anniversary of Hill and 70th birthday of Leonard Bernstein. 

So to continue, my RA on 2nd Hamilton, Bursley had secured one of the 2 VCRs to show a couple of Monty Python movies for my hall. I couldn't go, but I asked if I could borrow it to watch with my new good friend and his buddy. RA said sure, so we watch the Holy Grail. At the end the other two guys say, well we're off to the belltower (around 1:30 am) to get in line. I go, really, they say, yeah... you want tickets you need to wait out all night. We arrive and are 15, 16 and 17th in line. Got the tickets and saw an amazing concert.

The pieces included Beethoven's Leonore, Bernstein's Halil and then Prelude Fugue and Riffs with the Vienna Phil. broken down to a big band and finally Brahms 4th. Absolutely incredible!

So I agree with what you suggest. 

Joby

October 14th, 2022 at 6:07 PM ^

Wynton Marsalis is like a latter-day Louis Armstrong-- New Orleans-born and raised, world's leading jazz ambassador, willing to blend traditional jazz with other derivative styles. Jazz at Lincoln Center, which he started in the 80s, is one of NYC's big musical offerings (along with NY Philharmonic and the Met Opera). He comes from the royal family of jazz: his dad Ellis was one of New Orleans' leading pianists for years before dying of COVID early in the pandemic, and his brother Branford was the leader of the Tonight Show band during Jay Leno's early tenure there. 

 

That should be enough for you to sound informed to your friends when you see him at halftime! 

Njia

October 14th, 2022 at 3:36 PM ^

As a high school jazz musician, I met Wynton and his brother, Branford, in the summer of 1984 up at Interlochen (I actually got to play in the sax line with Branford when he sat in on one of our rehearsals). Both are amazing musicians, and the definition of "class acts." Consequently, I'm not surprised that Wynton, at least, is a Michigan Wolverine (in spirit, anyway)!