The Marsalis Family - A Jazz Celebration

Rating:
Summary: Great music, poor quality
Review: Great music but poor technical quality, no bonus apart from interviews. But it's the Marsalis, the best in Jazz. Greatest moment : Harry Conink Jr. coming on the set.

J.Yager, France

Rating:
Summary: "standing ovation for two generations ~ Marsalis Family"
Review: History, musical history was made on August 4, 2001 the gathering of the clan ~ the Marsalis clan. Head master Ellis Marsalis invited his siblings (Branford, Delfeayo, Jason and Wynton) and musical family (Lucien Barbarin, Roland Guerin and Harry Connick Jr.) a montage of "Jazz" coming at you with "THE SURREY WITH THE FRINGE ON TOP", "AFTER" and "SULTRY SERENADE" ~ and you're loving every moment of it. A wonderful composition by Branford "CAIN & ABEL", with the entire family bringing home a winning performance. This was a program made in heaven ~ from the opening to the final curtain. Connick's version of "SAINT JAMES INFIRMARY", is a classic performance with Barbarin on trombone, takes the audience right up to infirmary and the blues. If that's not enough, Connick and the gang go right into "LIMEHOUSE BLUES", remember this tune from a Fred Astaire film in the late '40s.

Here are my picks for highlights ~ "NOSTALGIC IMPRESSIONS", sweet, close and tingling harmony make up this cue, this gig comes right up grabs you ~ "STRUTTIN' WITH SOME BARBECUE" composed by the late Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong no jazz concert would be complete without it ~ every musician is in top form and having the time of their life ~ and they received a standing ovation ~ as Ellis points out if it wasn't for this man what would America be playing today ~ this is a tribute to Armstrong and the man ~ humble, talented and wonderful human being. And so it is with the Marsalis Family ~ "The Best of the Best", a once in a lifetime event ~ and we had a front row seat.

Total Time: 76:43 on 12 Tracks ~ Marsalis Music/Rounder Records 11661-3302-9 ~ (4/15/2003)

Rating:
Summary: "standing ovation for two generations ~ Marsalis Family"
Review: History, musical history was made on August 4, 2001 the gathering of the clan ~ the Marsalis clan. Head master Ellis Marsalis invited his siblings (Branford, Delfeayo, Jason and Wynton) and musical family (Lucien Barbarin, Roland Guerin and Harry Connick Jr.) a montage of "Jazz" coming at you with "THE SURREY WITH THE FRINGE ON TOP", "AFTER" and "SULTRY SERENADE" ~ and you're loving every moment of it. A wonderful composition by Branford "CAIN & ABEL", with the entire family bringing home a winning performance. This was a program made in heaven ~ from the opening to the final curtain. Connick's version of "SAINT JAMES INFIRMARY", is a classic performance with Barbarin on trombone, takes the audience right up to infirmary and the blues. If that's not enough, Connick and the gang go right into "LIMEHOUSE BLUES", remember this tune from a Fred Astaire film in the late '40s.

Here are my picks for highlights ~ "NOSTALGIC IMPRESSIONS", sweet, close and tingling harmony make up this cue, this gig comes right up grabs you ~ "STRUTTIN' WITH SOME BARBECUE" composed by the late Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong no jazz concert would be complete without it ~ every musician is in top form and having the time of their life ~ and they received a standing ovation ~ as Ellis points out if it wasn't for this man what would America be playing today ~ this is a tribute to Armstrong and the man ~ humble, talented and wonderful human being. And so it is with the Marsalis Family ~ "The Best of the Best", a once in a lifetime event ~ and we had a front row seat.

Total Time: 76:43 on 12 Tracks ~ Marsalis Music/Rounder Records 11661-3302-9 ~ (4/15/2003)

Rating:
Summary: Excellent sound, visuals, and overall atmosphere
Review: Well, this is one concert I would sure love to have gone to - all of the great Marsallis muzos in one room - with Harry Connick Jr thrown in as well! What more could you ask for? Frankly, nothing really. I'm sure it would be easy to complain that the concert is just too darn short, but then it would be hard to know when to stop with these guys, they're just so musical and inspirational. The behind-the-scenes interviews are wonderful - full of reverence and little anecdotes. The music itself is all that you would expect - clean, tidy, and highly impressive. Everyone gets a chance to display their chops, and there are very few weaknesses apparent. At times the muzos appear very matter-of-fact (particularly Ellis himself), but I guess there's not much to prove, so who's complaining? Not me - let's see some more of this!