Wynton Marsalis



Wynton Marsalis (born October 18, 1961) is an American trumpeter and composer. He has also worked in classical music.

Attributed

 * The first jazz musician was a trumpeter, Buddy Bolden, and the last will be a trumpeter, the archangel Gabriel.


 * I had a trumpet, but I didn't want to be a trumpet player. I wanted to be some type of athlete or in some type of scholarly activity, be a chemist or something&mdash;I had my little chemistry set, and I like playing with it.


 * Flexibility is an essential part of Jazz. It's what gives Jazz music the ability to combine with all other types of music and not lose its identity.


 * I think that virtuosity is the first sign of morality in a musician. It means you're serious enough to practice.


 * The reason why the music is important is that it's an art form&mdash; an ancient art form&mdash; that takes in the mythology of our people.


 * Some stances are just conducive to swinging. If I stand up straight for too long it's harder to swing. Plus my feet hurt.


 * (about rap and hip-hop) They take your drawers off for you, they show your ass, they sell bullshit, they call themselves 'niggaz' and the women 'bitches' and 'hos' and it's fine with everybody. That's what the essence of decadence is.

Quotes about Wynton Marsalis

 * Wynton Marsalis' skills have grown as fast as his ambition, and he is the most ambitious younger composer in Jazz.
 * Jon Pareles "Review/Jazz: Wynton Marsalis Takes a Long Look at Slavery," The New York Times (4 April 1994) C-13.