Tumultuous 2020 Inspires Wynton Marsalis to Create THE DEMOCRACY SUITE
WDCB’s Gary Zidek catches up with trumpeter, composer and jazz ambassador Wynton Marsalis.
LISTEN
“Each movement deals with a different aspect of things we all experienced, it’s more of a collective look at topical experiences. Because we all experienced the same things. For those of us who are old enough, when it comes to the social issues, it reminded us of the 60s and early 70s, we couldn’t help but make connections.” - Jazz great Wynton Marsalis talking about how the events of 2020 inspired THE DEMOCRACY SUITE.
Trumpeter, composer & bandleader Wynton Marsalis. Photo credit: Danny Clinch
Artists around the world reacted to the pandemic in different ways. Jazz great Wynton Marsalis responded the only he knows how, by creating new music. The acclaimed trumpeter and jazz ambassador composed a selection of new tunes for a project called THE DEMOCRACYC SUITE.
Inspired by the political, social, and economic struggles facing the U.S., Marsalis composed a series of new songs that serve as instrumental ruminations on the issues that have recently dominated our lives. Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra Septet convened during the lockdown to record THE DEMOCRACY SUITEm at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Frederick P. Rose Hall in New York City. The piece was also recorded as a concert film, which will be presented through the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association’s Symphony Center Presents On Demand series (March 19 - March 28).
Wynton Marsalis in action pre-pandemic. Photo credit: Frank Stewart.
