Poster A man plays trumpet onstage
Wynton Marsalis has won a Pulitzer Prize.
Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images
Rhapsody in Black

Wynton Marsalis has jazz and classical chops

Rhapsody in Black - Wynton Marsalis
DOWNLOAD

Trumpeter Wynton Marsalis is internationally known for his outstanding career in jazz. Currently, he is the artistic director of jazz at Lincoln Centre. Many don’t know that he has also found success in classical music. In 1983, he won Grammy awards for both jazz and classical. The classical recording featured trumpet concertos by Haydn, Hummel and Mozart. While the album was a commercial success, Marsalis faced racial tensions with the Prague-based orchestra that recorded the album with him.

Musical selections from Wynton Marsalis

‘Plantation Coffee March’

In 1997 Marsalis’ epic oratorio about slavery and freedom, Blood on the Fields, won the Pulitzer Prize for music. ‘Plantation Coffee March’ is one of the larger pieces from the oratorio work.

2:19 Blues

Composed by Louis Armstrong, Marsalis’ rendition brings this blues classical into the 21st century.

The two-nineteenth brought my baby away
The two-nineteenth brought my baby away
The two-seventeenth will bring her back someday

Standin' in the corner with her feet soakin' wet
Standin' in the corner with her feet soakin' wet
Beggin' each and every man that she met

Twilight

From Marsalis’ first album, Wynton Marsalis, ‘Twilight’ is an original composition featuring his brother Branford Marsalis (saxophone), Clarence Seay (bass), Kenny Kirkland (piano) and Jeff Watts (drums).

Credits

Host: Vernon Neal

Producer: Dan Nass

Writers: Andrea Blain and Scott Blankenship

Additional music selections: Jeffrey Yelverton

Executive Producer: Julie Amacher

Love the music?

Donate by phone
1-800-562-8440

Show your support by making a gift to YourClassical.

Each day, we’re here for you with thoughtful streams that set the tone for your day – not to mention the stories and programs that inspire you to new discovery and help you explore the music you love.

YourClassical is available for free, because we are listener-supported public media. Take a moment to make your gift today.

More Ways to Give

Your Donation

$5/month
$10/month
$15/month
$20/month
$

Latest Rhapsody in Black Episodes

VIEW ALL EPISODES

Latest Rhapsody in Black Episodes

Hazel Scott 'jazzed up the classics' and stood up against segregation

Hazel Scott 'jazzed up the classics' and stood up against segregation

Pianist Hazel Scott was billed as ‘The Darling of Café Society’ due to her ability to sell out shows with her masterful improvisations. But her music was heavily intertwined with politics as she spoke up continually against segregation. Find out more in the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.

5:00
Meet Vernon Neal, the host of 'Rhapsody in Black'
Legendary rocker Jimi Hendrix loved classical music

Legendary rocker Jimi Hendrix loved classical music

Jimi Hendrix, who set London’s club scene ablaze and literally set his guitar ablaze while performing at Woodstock, also had a burning desire to study classical music. Find out more in the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.

5:00
Tosin Abasi is a guitar trailblazer

Tosin Abasi is a guitar trailblazer

Guitarist Tosin Abasi uses the influences of punk, funk, jazz and classical to forge a voice that doesn’t fit into any single category. He’s one of the most innovative guitarists alive today. Find out more in the ‘Rhapsody in Black’ podcast.

5:00
Herbie Hancock is a musical innovator

Herbie Hancock is a musical innovator

Herbie Hancock helped rewrite post-bop language and reimagined the rhythm section as a conversational engine. But his musical imagination wouldn’t stop at jazz. He has continued composing for film and the concert hall alike. Find out more in the ‘Rhapsody in Black’ podcast.

5:00
Miles Davis reinvented the jazz scene

Miles Davis reinvented the jazz scene

Jazz trumpeter Miles Davis redefined the genre in subtle and caustic ways. While he had great success he was always restless for innovation. Find out more in the latest episode of the ‘Rhapsody in Black’ podcast.

5:00
Quincy Jones was a legend across genres and decades

Quincy Jones was a legend across genres and decades

At his core, Quincy Jones was a composer and arranger whose voice was shaped by the world of classical music. His ability to weave Black musical traditions into classical frameworks opened doors for new generations of Black and Brown composers. Find out more in the ‘Rhapsody in Black’ podcast.

5:00
Pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason grew up in a family surrounded by music

Pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason grew up in a family surrounded by music

Raised in a family surrounded by music, pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason has worked hard to become a successful concert and recording artist. She had help along the way, primarily from her parents, who made sacrifices to ensure that she and her six younger siblings have all had wonderful music educations. Find out more in the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.

5:00
Pianist Michelle Cann inspires next generation as a noted music teacher
5:00
Melanie DeMore uses her voice as a 'weapon of mass connection'
5:00
VIEW ALL EPISODES

About Rhapsody in Black

Where we turn up the voices of Black artists in the world of classical music, with host Vernon Neal.

Subscribe to the podcast:  Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon MusicTuneInRSS Feed

About Rhapsody in Black
YourClassical Radio
0:00
0:00