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Wynton Marsalis

Wynton Marsalis Quotes

Trumpeter

Wynton Marsalis is an American trumpeter, composer, and bandleader. Born on October 18, 1961, he has made significant contributions to the field of jazz music. Marsalis has won numerous awards, including nine Grammy Awards, and has been a leading figure in the jazz community.

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All Jazz People Musician Art Ifs Play Jazz Music Way Mean Teach Firsts Trying Giving Music Music Is New Orleans Want Band Feels Kids

Famous Wynton Marsalis Quotes

“Many heroic things happened during slavery. And remember that there was a national movement away from it even at the time. The era of Reconstruction and then the subsequent dismantling of Reconstruction sent us in a tailspin. Then we had the Civil Rights movement. Now we have our first non-white president. We have a pattern of moving apart and then coming back together throughout the history of this country. Each time, we come closer.”

“The black hole in democracy is integrity. The great unspoken is integrity. When integrity is not first and foremost, it's quite palpable but not visible. It's always there. Jazz highlights it because musicians and jazz always represented a high level of integrity.”

Firsts Black Levels Democracy Integrity Musician Jazz Holes Visible Unspoken Highlights High Level Black Hole

Author:Wynton Marsalis

“I think that when the education system started to be dismantled during the first Great Depression in the 1930s, we didn't recover from that.”

Thinking Firsts Education System Great Depression 1930s

Author:Wynton Marsalis

“When I first came to New York everybody on the scene would treat me like I could play but I couldn't.”

Firsts Play New York Scene Treats

Author:Wynton Marsalis

“I got my first trumpet when I was six years old, from Al Hirt. My father was playing in Al Hirt's band at that time.”

Years Firsts Father Band Six Als Trumpets Six Year Olds

Author:Wynton Marsalis

“The first time I ever played the trumpet in public, I played the Marine Hymn. I sounded terrible.”

Firsts Terrible First Time Marine Trumpets Hymns Marine Life

Author:Wynton Marsalis

“Music is always for the listener, but the first listener is always the musician”

Firsts Musician Music Is Listeners

Author:Wynton Marsalis

“The first jazz musician was a trumpeter, Buddy Bolden, and the last will be a trumpeter, the archangel Gabriel.”

Firsts Lasts Musician Jazz Buddy Jazz Music Gabriel Jazz Musician Archangel

Author:Wynton Marsalis

“I think that virtuosity is the first sign of morality in a musician. It means you're serious enough to practice.”

Thinking Firsts Mean Enough Practice Serious Morality Musician Jazz Virtuosity

Author:Wynton Marsalis

“Grace Kelly plays with intelligence, wit and feeling. She has a great amount of natural ability and the ability to adapt. That is the hallmark of a first-class jazz musician.”

Firsts Play Feelings Natural Ability Class Grace Amount Musician Jazz Wit Jazz Music Hallmark First Class Jazz Musician Natural Ability Ability To Adapt

Author:Wynton Marsalis

“Through first-class education, a generation marches down the long uncertain road of the future with confidence.”

Firsts Long Class Generations Confidence March Uncertain First Class Uncertain Future

Author:Wynton Marsalis

About the Author

Born: October 18, 1961
Known for: Trumpeter
Quotes: 193

Related Topics

Jazz People Musician Art Ifs Play Jazz Music Way Mean Teach Firsts Trying Giving Music Music Is New Orleans Want Band Feels Kids

Popular Topics

People Ifs Thinking Knows Men World Way Want Love Life Inspirational Needs Giving Feels Should Writing Trying Years Mind Firsts

Books & Sources

Moving to Higher Ground: How Jazz Can Change Your LifeRelated source material

Jazz In The Bittersweet Blues Of LifeRelated source material

To a Young Jazz Musician: Letters from the RoadRelated source material

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