Wynton Marsalis official web site

Wynton returns to New Orleans to commemorate Hurricane Katrina and help support the cultural infrastructure of a city devastated one year ago.

“Celebrate Jazz Trio: Rebuild the Soul of America” is a three-day commemorative event sponsored by Harrah’s Casino that includes a concert; a talent search contest featuring performances by Wynton and the hottest local talent in the Mississippi Delta; and a free jazz and culinary event featuring Emeril Lagasse with Marsalis welcoming back the school children of New Orleans.
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New Orleans will observe the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina as only America’s most musical city can, with a jazz funeral.
Wynton Marsalis and Mayor Ray Nagin announced Friday afternoon the three-day observance, set for Aug. 27-29, promising details later.
Wynton and the city’s musicians will lead the procession from the Convention Center to the Superdome in the tradition of a jazz funeral. The grand marshal will be Lt. Gen. Russell Honore, who arrived the Thursday after the Aug. 29 storm to lead the federal troops who followed.
“These three days will be one of rebirth, remembrance and renewal,” the mayor’s announcement said.

Observances will include prayer breakfasts, an evening of fine dining in the city’s famed restaurants, a gospel concert in the Convention Center and a two-hour nationally televised jazz concert led by Wynton in the refurbished New Orleans Arena.
There will also be charity auctions, an Ambassadors of Swing talent search, a big-donor Masquerade Gala at Harrah’s and a giant fireworks display on the riverfront.

There will be a ringing of the city’s church bells at 9:38 a.m. Aug. 29, the hour at which the first levee breach was reported. Wreaths will be laid at the site of each levee breach throughout the city.
Celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse and Wynton will present an educational program of food and music for children.
Chairs of the event are Seletha Nagin, New Orleans’ first lady; Bill McFarlin, executive director of the International Association for Jazz Education; and Dan Carlin, chairman emeritus of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

Wynton Marsalis will return to New Orleans to produce a television special marking the hurricane’s anniversary.
Wynton and his production partner Lisa Marie Hoggs will team with producers John Cossette and Don Mischer to helm “New Orleans: Rebuilding the Soul of America One Year Later,” a live television special taking place at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center.
Wynton is expected to announce the venture during a June 6 taping of the Food Network’s “Emeril Live”, where he will also perform with the show’s house band.
He is also planning a three-day tribute to New Orleans, from August 27 through the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina on August 29, to include in the television special. The event will feature the Ambassador of Swing Talent Search at Harrah’s New Orleans Theater, including performances by Wynton Marsalis, jazz vocalist Cassandra Wilson and some of the hottest local talent in Louisiana and Mississippi; and Cooking with Music, an event featuring Lagasse and Marsalis to welcome back New Orleans school children.

A nice article about behind the scenes, and Wynton directing Congo Square in New Orleans is now on line on The Times Picayune.

Thanks to our friend Debra, we received new and exciting photos about Wynton at Congo Square parade in New Orleans. Enjoy the images in our gallery !
More images on flickr

Yesterday, joined by members of numerous brass bands from throughout the city, the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra with Wynton and the Capital Region-based percussion ensemble Odadaa! marched into historic Congo Square in classic New Orleans parade style Sunday as hundreds of concertgoers danced along behind them.

Here you have some photos from the Congo Square rehearsal, and an article on TimesUnion about the world premiere (yesterday)
Plus there are also three videos regarding: pre-parade | parade | concert (Quicktime player needed)
In the concert video, Wynton sings duetting with Herlin Riley at the tamburine.

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Throughout the week, Wynton Marsalis and Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra will conduct a number of special ‘all-ages’ events around the city aimed at increasing awareness of jazz.

Below is the list of events:

Wednesday: Victor Goines at the Jazz National Park, 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Thursday: Herlin Riley at McDonough 35, 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Thursday: Jacub Addy and Odadaa!, James Singleton Charter Middle School, 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Friday: Wynton Marsalis’ ‘Jazz for Young People’, ‘What is New Orleans Jazz’, at The Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Sunday: Second Line starting at The Backstreet Cultural Museum, line up at 11:00 a.m., parade at 12:00 p.m.

Sunday: Concert at Armstrong Park from 1:15 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.