Joy Keys chats with Musician Jason Marsalis

 Jason is the son of pianist and music educator Ellis Marsalis and his wife Dolores, and the youngest sibling of Wynton, Branford and Delfeayo. Together, the four brothers and Ellis comprise New Orleans’s venerable first family of jazz.

Jason is well known for his prodigaldrumming. Working with the Ellis Marsalis trioas well as the Marcus Roberts trio, he hasfine tuned his playing in two of the mostdemanding settings in modern jazz. However,with the release of 2008’s “Music Update,” listeners are now recognizing Jason for hisunique sound on the vibraphones.

Jason has appeared at many of the foremost jazz venues through the US and Canada, and has toured Europe on the summer festival scene.  His playing is unique; drawing from a wide range of influences, Jason performs original music as well as many hidden gems in the jazz literature and beyond

As a drummer, Marsalis collaborates frequently with his brothers Delfeayo and Branford, in addition to Marcus Roberts and Ellis Marsalis. When he is not filling the drum chairs in these groups, Jason performs as a vibraphonist with his own quartet, and with musicians such as former Harry Connick drummer Shannon Powell, Irvin Mayfield, and others. Audio samples of Jason’s work on vibes are available at his website:

WEBSITE: http://www.jasonmarsalis.com.