Wynton Marsalis official web site

Wynton Marsalis’ Congo Square on USA TODAY

April 14, 2006  - Articles, Congo Square, Interview

10 Comments so far »

1. whitney marchelle said

   on April 27, 2006 @ 11:55 am

   A spiritual,historical, festive,rythmnic,musical event I was so proud to be able to participate. I am so proud of the song wynton wrote and sung.

   Whitney

2. whitney marchelle said

   on April 27, 2006 @ 12:01 pm

   Only those who are a native of New Orleans like Wynton is able to convey such a spiritual interview as this. Its touches my heart and gave me a history I was unaware of.

   Thanks
   whit

   Now what about the 9th ward obtaining electricity and the levee to be restrored by next months hurricane season????

3. Sarah Brinklow said

   on June 15, 2007 @ 3:56 pm

   Totally Amazing…!!

   Caught Wynton and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra along with Yacub Addy and Odadaa! (from Ghana)at the Eastman Theatre, Rochester NY (Rochester International Jazz Festival) last night…took my two teenagers. My kids are both musicians and my 18 year old was really impressed. He is in a post hardcore/metalcore band and awakening to jazz and other genres all the time. My daughter is 15 and has ambitions in opera and/or contemporary so they take their music seriously. I am a poet/writer/single mom.

   I have to say that both of my children agreed what I had imagine would come to pass: that they could never forget this concert. The two hours became a very spiritual time for us, as well as uplifting and empowering. From a creative perspective as a writer, it wasn’t a conscious stretch to have certain natural elements come to life in the music. It was not as though we were consciously looking for sounds to spring to conscious thought and paint a picture, but different images soon became apparent that we traded with one another. It became a visionary experience.

   And as if exploring the roots of jazz in its new orleans/African roots weren’t enough; to hear, feel and witness the transitions between the two and wonder how they were so masterfully accomplish truly boggles the mind in retrospect, even if the two side by side now seem like the most natural thing in the world to me. My epiphany was seeing the fusion actually take place.

   Never in my years have I ever been quite this impressed……

4. Jacques Mullins said

   on June 24, 2007 @ 9:27 pm

   I caught the Congo Square show here in Detroit,Michigan on friday night.I had my concerns as to how the two art forms would intermingle……In my estimation this artistic presentation was the best I had ever seen.Everyone who attended this concert came away very enlightened.Please check it out if you can and take someone with you.

   “Keep Swinging”
   Jacques Mullins

5. Sarah Brinklow said

   on June 24, 2007 @ 10:49 pm

   * *** note: My apologies re: previous reference to Yacub Addy being present; the review in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle indicated that Addy was not present and I had assumed, never having seen Addy before, didn’t click he was missing, as oddly it was never mentioned from the stage (!!) in Rochester that evening. Apparently Addy had taken ill. My apologies for the misinformation; was so caught up in the magic of the evening for it to register….:)

6. Karen said

   on June 25, 2007 @ 10:44 pm

   Yes, Yacub was not present in Rochester. It was, thankfully, the only performance that he missed. Actually, I found it very interesting to be able to attend that show. Many of the musicians in Odadaa had assumed different roles in the instrumentation of the pieces as a result of Yacub’s absence (and also due to absence of the one and only Ricky Gordon). Also, the Odadaa drummers received a standing ovation in the Eastman Theater for their performance in “Logo Talk”. The audience loved it and they carried the show extremely well.

   I want to thank Wynton and Yacub for this uplifting contribution to the canon of Jazz. There is a beauty in this piece that touches the audience in a deep way, on a spiritual level. This music further esteems the value of African culture, particularly Ghanaian culture, and exemplifies the West African roots of American musical forms. This is so critically important at this time in our global development. It is through music and dance that we can most readily celebrate each other. Jazz has its collective essence and it is truly beautiful to witness this collective cultural phenomenon and its impact on our citizens.

7. Larry Calvin said

   on July 20, 2007 @ 12:38 pm

   I was at the Original concert in New Orleans last year and it was “awesome” and uplifited the spirits of all New Orleans residents who attended. I would like to know when is the CD coming out of that performance?

8. Luigi Beverelli said

   on July 20, 2007 @ 4:10 pm

   Dear Larry,
   the Congo Square album will be in stores this fall.

   Now you can buy a limited edition cd directly on:

   http://www.jalc.org/congo/index.htm

9. Mojela Mokgoke said

   on August 10, 2009 @ 1:31 pm

   I first saw the Congo Square at one of our local stores (Kloppers in Bloemfontein - South Africa) in December 2009, bought it. I have never regretted doing that. It is not that I am mad about the father and son’s (Brandford and Wynton)music, but spirituality role that their artistic work delivers to my soul makes me buy anything from them without even listening or view. If it is possible all those who got spiritually cought by the concert or the DVD will agree with mr when I say the composition of the two have much to do with healing,connectio with Africa and spiritual uplifment. I am encouraging fellow friends to also go an extra mile to buy the following artistic works of this and other artists -

   [NB: Just few selection]
   Brandford Marsalis 1. Eternal (CD) Wynton Marsalis 1. In this house, On this morning (DVD) - ,the song “Benediction” 2. The Majesty of the blues (CD), the song “Premature Autopsies” Pharoah Sanders 1. Save Our Children (CD), the song “Jewels of love” Miles Davis 1. Kind of Blue, the songs “Flaming Sketches 5 and 6″ Live Culture (RSA)

   1. A man, A boy and A Girl, the song “Kraal Blues”

   John Coltrane

   1. The very best of …(CD), the song “My favorite things”

   Charles Lloyd

   1. Forest Flower, the song “Forest Floer Sunset”

10. MOJELA MOKGOKE said

    on December 17, 2009 @ 3:40 pm

    How to interact with the Marsalis family?

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