“Soooo New Orleans!” — Allen Morrison, DownBeat
“You’re gonna feel like you’re at a street party in the Crescent City with trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis leading the Uptown Jazz Orchestra.” — George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly
Nationwide — From the sparkling waters of Lake Pontchartrain to the mouth-watering Creole cuisine, the cultural tapestry of the French Quarter to – of course – the exhilarating music that fills the air, New Orleans is world renowned for the dazzling gems that make it the extraordinary city that it is. The life of the city breathes through its hometown heroes, who Delfeayo Marsalis triumphantly celebrates on Crescent City Jewels, the latest album with his Uptown Jazz Orchestra.Released August 30, 2024, on the Troubadour Jass label, Crescent City Jewels brings together a host of veteran and rising New Orleans musicians for a high-spirited big band session honoring those everyday heroes, supplemented by a number of guest stars, including big brother Branford Marsalis for a pair of jaw-dropping sax showcases, Big Easy ambassador Kermit Ruffins, “Piano Prince of New Orleans” Davell Crawford, and drummer extraordinaire Herlin Riley.
The seeds for the album were sown decades ago by a conversation between Marsalis and the iconic drummer Max Roach. As the Grammy winner and NEA Jazz Master recalls, “Max told me, ‘When I look around, I see greatness everywhere. I see greatness in the postman who shows up every day to deliver the mail, and in the teacher who is serious about teaching these kids.’ That one conversation changed my perception of the world that we live in and how best to represent it in my music.’”
Joyously elevating those real-world heroes, Crescent City Jewels is like a Gratitude Journal in song, a rollicking collection that expresses the bandleader’s appreciation for the good things in life. “What the jazz community needs right now are bands that can bring joy and optimism,” Marsalis says. “We not only need it for the audiences, but other bands need to hear it. There are so many bands that play what they consider to be ‘modern’ music which may not be the most uplifting experience for the audience. I feel very fortunate that I have a band, especially coming out of New Orleans, that can bring that emotion and joy.”
On Sunday, October 6, 2024, Marsalis and the Uptown Jazz Orchestra will host the 4th annual Jazz at Congo Square Festival, a FREE celebration of New Orleans music, food, culture, and traditions. With live entertainment from 12—7pm, JACS will showcase a variety of artists who have contributed tremendously to the city’s local scene and the international music community at large. Co-hosted by pianist/Tulane University professor Jesse McBride, and WWL-TV news anchor Charisse Gibson, the event will include local food, art, and merchandise vendors along with musical artists: The Congo Square Preservation Society Drum Circle, DJ Redd, Kermit Ruffins & the BBQ Swingers, Zydeco master Corey Ledet, as well as African Dance ensembles. Jazz at Congo Square Festival was created to promote and celebrate the significance of Congo Square, while highlighting why the space is and should remain a historical landmark in New Orleans. The event will offer space to nonprofit organizations who share a similar mission of preserving New Orleans culture. Local vendors will be on-site, providing the finest in food, jewelry, and arts and crafts throughout the day.
“We definitely know how to throw a party down here,” says Festival founder Delfeayo Marsalis. “Bring the children, bring grandma and grandpa. Get ready to dance their blues away and rejoice out loud!”
For more information, visit www.theujo.org/ccj/ and JazzatCongoSquare.org
October 6, 2024, 12—7pm