Jazz originated in New Orleans in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Trumpeter and composer Wynton Marsalis and his septet will be offering a virtual space for their performance of The Democracy! Suite this month. The performance "aims to entertain, inspire and uplift audiences with the full vigor, vision and depth of America's music." Marsalis' group features seven of jazz's finest soloists and this particular performance will celebrate jazz's embodiment of freedom and democracy. Continue reading for what to expect from this unique jazz experience.
Jazz For Democracy
American's have become more and more acquainted with virtual events like this one due to the pandemic, some of them performed live and others not. This concert was filmed on September 27, 2020, but it doesn't take anything away from the impact of the performance. The Democracy! Suite was pre-recorded in the Frederick P. Rose Hall in New York City in accordance with the New York State Department of Health Interim Guidance on Media Production during the pandemic.
For your $20 ticket, the virtual show will begin with a personal message from Marsalis himself, followed by the premiere of The Democracy! Suite. What is the story that the Marsalis septet is telling in this new performance? Here's some context: this new composition was written during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis as a response to the political, social and economic struggles facing our nation. According to CU Presents, which is facilitating the event, the performance is a "swinging and stimulating instrumental rumination on the issues that have recently dominated our lives as well as the beauty that could emerge from a collective effort to create a better future."