Ellis Marsalis Quintet featured performer at The 39th Annual ASU Jazz Festival

VICKSBURG, Miss. - March 7, 2019 - PRLog -- The Vicksburg Convention Center is proud to host the   39th Annual Alcorn State University (ASU) Jazz Festival featuring NEA Jazz Master, Ellis Marsalis.  The festival will be held on Saturday, April 13, 2019.  The times for the performances are scheduled for 9:00 am-4:00 pm, High School and University Jazz Ensembles; 4:00 pm-5:00 pm, Ellis Marsalis Workshop; 7:00 pm-7:45 pm, Mississippi Jazz Educators; 8:00 pm-9:30 pm, Ellis Marsalis Quintet.  All events are free and open to the public.

NEA Jazz Master, Ellis Marsalis, is a father figure of modern jazz — in quite a few ways. As a pianist, he was among the first generation of musicians to bring bebop to New Orleans.  As an educator, he has mentored and instructed many great musicians, whether in New Orleans' arts high schools or at various university programs.   The countless musicians include trumpeter Terence Blanchard, pianist Harry Connick Jr., saxophonist Donlad Harrison, and his four musician sons, Wynton, Branford, Delfeayo and Jason.

For nearly four decades the Department of Fine Arts at Alcorn State University, with funding from the Mississippi Arts Commission, South Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts and Art Works, has sponsored what has become Mississippi's longest-running and most prestigious jazz festival. The day-long festival features performances by some of the most outstanding professional jazz musicians and university, college and secondary school jazz ensembles from throughout the United States. Highlights of the festival are the afternoon workshops and evening concerts by some of the world's greatest jazz artists which have included Jazz masters like Chick Corea, Clark Terry, Max Roach, Slide Hampton, Maynard Ferguson, Freddie Hubbard, Louie Bellson, Donald Byrd, Branford Marsalis, Stanley Turrentine, McCoy Tyner, Arturo Sandoval and Ramsey Lewis.  These artists have helped establish the ASU Jazz Festival as a true gem and premier jazz event in the region.