Wynton Marsalis official web site

On April 7, 8, 9, 2008, Wynton rehearsed with JLCO and the Choir for Abyssinian 200: A Celebration. Yesterday night, the new Mass was premiered at Rose Theater (JALC). Following you can read an Associated Press article about the Mass and a photo-video report of the rehearsals at JALC.

NEW YORK (AP) — Wynton Marsalis will be turning the House That Jazz Built at the Time Warner Center into the House of the Lord when he premieres his first jazz Mass, which blends the gospel and jazz traditions in a celebration of the 200th anniversary of Harlem’s Abyssinian Baptist Church, New York State’s oldest African-American congregation.
The 100-plus Abyssinian Baptist Church Bicentennial Choir will lift their voices in song as they make their way through the Rose Theater in the traditional Processional to join forces with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra to perform Marsalis’ “Abyssinian 200: A Celebration,” a 19-part piece based on the liturgy found in many African-American Baptist churches.

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The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO) and Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) have commissioned Wynton to compose a new orchestral piece. At the request of Wynton, ASO Music Director Robert Spano will serve as Wynton’s personal composition mentor, and will lead the ASO in the world premier performance during the NBAF’s 20th Anniversary season.
Rehearsals: July 17-18. Performances: July 19.

Wynton will also compose a new work for combined symphonic and jazz orchestras for Michigan State University’s Wharton Center and the Detroit Symphony. MSU gets the world premiere on Sept. 25 at the Wharton Center in East Lansing. The DSO performs it on Sept. 27. (Dates to be confirmed).

Actually, Wynton is composing a piece commissioned by JALC in recognition of Abyssinian Baptist Church’s 200th Anniversary. Title of the concert is Abyssinian 200: a Celebration. It’s for the JLCO, Rev. Dr. Calvin O. Butts III and the Abyssinian Choir. Rose Theater dates are April 10, 11, and 12; run-out performances at Abyssinian are April 19. Check our tour section for more info about tickets.

On September 23, 2007, PBS will air “THE WAR”, a new seven-part documentary series directed and produced by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick. The new film explores the history and horror of the Second World War from an American perspective by following the fortunes of so-called ordinary men and women who become caught up in one of the greatest cataclysms in human history.
Wynton composed a number of songs for the original soundtrack. He also played them with Victor Goines, Walter Blanding, Jr., Carlos Henriques, Ali Jackson, Mark O’Connor, Bill Charlap, and Doug Wamble.

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On April 10, 11 & 12, 2008, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra will premiere a special mass composed by Wynton Marsalis to commemorate the 200th anniversary of The Abyssinian Baptist Church.
Combining jazz and gospel traditions, this liturgy of the Abyssinian service is the first time collaboration for the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Rev. Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III and the church choir.
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Tuesday, March 11, Wynton played at Rose Theater (JALC) with his quintet and Dr John.
During the evening there was the premier performance of: “Music, Deep Rivers in My Soul,” an hour-long suite for quintet and special guests based on a poem by Maya Angelou.
You can read a review of the concert by the New York Sun.

The New York Sun has also published an article about Wynton’s latest album: From the Plantation to the Penitentiary

Wynton Marsalis and Ken Burns teamed up again. The War, Ken Burns’ series about the American experience in World War II, will be out in fall 2007, and Wynton wrote, arranged and performed the original soundtrack.

On December 16, 17, 18 at 8:00pm Suite for Human Nature will make its New York debut and kick off the Jazz at Lincoln Center holiday season at the organization’s new home, Frederick P. Rose Hall. A special matinee performance will be held on December 19 at 3:00pm.
Tickets for the New York City holiday event are $10, $40, $75, $100, $115 and $150 and are available at the new Jazz at Lincoln Center box office on Broadway at 60th St., by calling CenterCharge at (212) 721-6500 or via jalc.org

Suite for Human Nature is a collaboration of Wyntons’s music and Diane Charlotte Lampert’s lyrics and original satirical fable of the same title. In this remarkable libretto, the Four Winds come to the rescue when Mother Nature and Father Time create the world, only to find the troubles of mankind are almost too much to bear. Mr. Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra will bring this heartwarming tale to life through jazz and dramatic characterizations. This is the first holiday program in Rose Theater.

The Washington Performing Arts Society, the Black Student Fund and Friedman, Billings & Ramsey present the Ambassador of Jazz, Wynton Marsalis, and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, featuring The Boys Choir of Harlem and guest vocalists, in the world premiere performance of the Suite for Human Nature, a heartwarming musical holiday fable, at Washington’s Lincoln Theatre.
Following the opening night performance at Lincoln Theatre, Friedman Billings Ramsey will host a festive fundraiser, the Suite for Human Nature Celebration, at the nearby Thurgood Marshall Center to celebrate the world premiere of Wynton Marsalis’ Suite for Human Nature.
The post-concert reception with the artists benefits the Black Student Fund on its 40th Ruby Anniversary and Washington Performing Arts Society in honor of its President Emeritus Douglas H. Wheeler.
To request an invitation to the Celebration or to purchase tickets, please call (202) 654-7008 or email december10celebration@yahoo.com. There is limited seating available.
Tickets start at $250 and include access to the performance and Celebration.

Tickets for Performances only on December 11 (7:30PM) and December 12 (Matinee - 3PM) can be purchased at www.wpas.org or at 202-397-7328.