Ellis Marsalis

Ellis Marsalis might best be characterized as half a household name. Thursday evening, sharing the bill with Wynton Marsalis before a full house atRoyce Hall, UCLA, he offered clear evidence of the talent that has been reflected in his more celebrated sons. Marsalis pere is a pianist steeped in several traditions.

It was ambitious to schedule a jazz show as the Greek Theatre's season finale. But it may have been less the fear of a chilly November night than a sky full of smoke and a weekend of tragedy that kept more music fans from showing up Sunday for the outdoor amphitheater's final night of performances with Brad Mehldau, Ellis Marsalis and McCoy Tyner.

In the Music Recital Hall at Cal State Northridge, stagehands were trying mightily to perfect the lights, the sound--anything to please saxophonist Branford Marsalis and his father, pianist Ellis Marsalis. But the two members of the Marsalis clan--often called the "First Family of Jazz"--couldn't have been more relaxed Wednesday afternoon, or less interested in technical perfection than in simply talking to students about jazz. "You know you're in L.A.," Branford Marsalis quipped.

For roughly two decades, the name "Marsalis" practically has been synonymous with jazz, thanks to the work of trumpeter Wynton and saxophonist Branford, his elder brothers. But there's another Marsalis who may be on the verge of attaining wide recognition: trombonist Delfeayo (pronounced DEL-fee-oh).

A collection of romantic ballads performed by saxophone and piano, sans rhythm section, is not necessarily the stuff of which effective jazz recordings are made. Yet that's precisely the route that the father and the eldest son of the Marsalis clan (with production supervision from another brother, Delfeayo) have taken to arrive at one of the most appealing CDs of the year.

The reputation of Ellis Marsalis, now well established in the jazz community, has been acquired, ironically, not through his contributions as a pianist, composer and educator, but vicariously through his achievements as a father. He is the father of six sons, two of whom, Wynton and Branford, are world-class names; two others, Delfeayo and 12-year-old Jason, seem destined for comparable musical success.

It's hard to imagine who could challenge Ellis Marsalis' position as First Father of Jazz.

*** Ellis Marsalis, "The Ellis Marsalis Trio," Blue Note. Borrowing bassist Bob Hurst and drummer Jeff Watts from son Branford, the Marsalis paterfamilias cruises pleasantly if unspectacularly through four well-crafted originals and several standards. The pianist comes closest to showing his true potential on the solo track, "I Thought About You."

"HOMECOMING." Eddie Harris/Ellis Marsalis. Spindletop STP 105. The senior Marsalis, a long underrated pianist, teams with the veteran saxophonist in a set that finds them generally compatible. Marsalis' accompaniment to the solos by Harris is so buoyantly sensitive that one never misses the rhythm section.

What in the world is Keith Jarrett bitching about? Anything that gets more straight-ahead jazz into the forefront has value. Jazz cannot be regarded as just a style of music for the past or present. To those of us who care, jazz must continually be perpetuated, and if "The Tonight Show" helps do the job, so be it. Anything to develop another generation of jazz artists and listeners is worth it, whether by personally reproducing them (thank you, Ellis Marsalis) or through their exposure to the medium (even on television)

Ellis L. Marsalis Sr., 96, the patriarch of a family of world-famous jazz musicians, including his son Ellis Marsalis Jr. and grandsons Branford, Delfeayo, Jason and Wynton Marsalis, died Sunday at a hospital in New Orleans. The cause of death was not announced. A native of Summit, Miss., Marsalis moved to New Orleans in 1921. He was the first African American to manage an Esso service station in the city. He also made his living for a time as a poultry farmer.

It was Louis Armstrong's 100th birthday, but Saturday night belonged to Ellis Marsalis. The weekend was rife with centennial celebrations dedicated to the city's most famous native son--the world-renowned jazz trumpeter and vocalist often called "Satchmo" or "Pops," who died in 1971.

It's hard to imagine who could challenge Ellis Marsalis' position as First Father of Jazz.

In the Music Recital Hall at Cal State Northridge, stagehands were trying mightily to perfect the lights, the sound--anything to please saxophonist Branford Marsalis and his father, pianist Ellis Marsalis. But the two members of the Marsalis clan--often called the "First Family of Jazz"--couldn't have been more relaxed Wednesday afternoon, or less interested in technical perfection than in simply talking to students about jazz. "You know you're in L.A.," Branford Marsalis quipped.

A collection of romantic ballads performed by saxophone and piano, sans rhythm section, is not necessarily the stuff of which effective jazz recordings are made. Yet that's precisely the route that the father and the eldest son of the Marsalis clan (with production supervision from another brother, Delfeayo) have taken to arrive at one of the most appealing CDs of the year.

Because his two-night engagement was booked at the last minute, only a handful of fans showed up on Wednesday night at Vine St. Bar & Grill to see pianist Ellis Marsalis--the father of Wynton and Branford. Long known in New Orleans as a respected educator, the elder Marsalis belatedly came to fame as a pianist through the achievements of his various sons. Not surprisingly, No. 1 son Branford was on hand Thursday as a sideman with his father's quartet.

It was Louis Armstrong's 100th birthday, but Saturday night belonged to Ellis Marsalis. The weekend was rife with centennial celebrations dedicated to the city's most famous native son--the world-renowned jazz trumpeter and vocalist often called "Satchmo" or "Pops," who died in 1971.

What in the world is Keith Jarrett bitching about? Anything that gets more straight-ahead jazz into the forefront has value. Jazz cannot be regarded as just a style of music for the past or present. To those of us who care, jazz must continually be perpetuated, and if "The Tonight Show" helps do the job, so be it. Anything to develop another generation of jazz artists and listeners is worth it, whether by personally reproducing them (thank you, Ellis Marsalis) or through their exposure to the medium (even on television)

*** Ellis Marsalis, "The Ellis Marsalis Trio," Blue Note. Borrowing bassist Bob Hurst and drummer Jeff Watts from son Branford, the Marsalis paterfamilias cruises pleasantly if unspectacularly through four well-crafted originals and several standards. The pianist comes closest to showing his true potential on the solo track, "I Thought About You."