Experience the inspiration and joy of creation and performance in Jazz in the Bittersweet Blues of Life , an intimate portrait of a unique artist and his audience. Set in the studio, on the stage, and in great cities and small towns across the country, this book captures life on the road for Marsalis and his musicians, evoking its ritual and renewal, energy and spirituality. Describing the art of improvisation, the book's two voices mirror the interplay at the heart of jazz. "On the road and on the bandstand," Marsalis writes, "something great may happen at any moment, something that might even change your life." Alternately luminous and boisterous, often poignant, and always passionate, Marsalis and Vigeland's extraordinary dialogue is a must for fans, musicians, and anyone curious about America's only indigenous art form.

Jazz In The Bittersweet Blues Of Life

Vigeland, Carl

Marsalis, Wynton

Humor & Entertainment

Da Capo Press

The thrill of sitting in a club or concert hall hearing jazz being made is familiar to most fans. But what if you could immerse yourself in the world of the musician, where creating and performing is a profound task, and yet as routine as breathing? When writer Carl Vigeland was invited to tour with Wynton Marsalis and his septet, he was able to do just that. Vigeland's acute observations sweep us into their world as he becomes virtually part of the band. At the same time, Marsalis offers intimate meditations on home, family, creation, and performance--written in the cadence of his inimitable voice. Set on the stage, in the studio, and in great cities and small towns around the world, this richly textured narrative explores how the music is made in America today.

Jazz in the Bittersweet Blues

Biographies & Memoirs

Arts & Literature

Wynton Marsalis's captivating text and Frank Stewart's stunning black-and-white photographs give us a year in the life of today's premier jazz musician and composer, in a book that is itself structured like a jazz blues. Featuring jive-talking cat daddies in the Second Line, gorgeous and mysterious women in the Sweet Refrain, exotic vistas in the Bridge, and musicians, like the J-Master on piano, who live the music the way they play it. By turns lyrical, down-to-earth, exalted, and profane, here are a thrilling evocation of the experience of group improvisation, a provocative take on rap, and distinctive views on the road, romance, creativity, politics, culture, tradition and innovation, and the role of the artist in American society. The result is a fascinating self-portrait, and the next best thing to being there for every fan who has ever dreamed of traveling with the band. The most popular and acclaimed jazz musician of his generation, Wynton Marsalis is also a distinguished classical performer, the first artist to win Grammy awards for both jazz and classical recordings. The founder of Lincoln Center's Classical Jazz Series, Marsalis is artistic director of Jazz at Lincoln Center Frank Stewart is a prize-winning photographer and filmmaker. His credits include Two Centuries of Black American Art and the Emmy-winning Bearden Plays Bearded. 137 duotones

Sweet Swing Blues on the Road: A Year with Wynton Marsalis and His Septet

Stewart, Frank

W.W.Norton&Company

Companion book to the popular PBS-TV series Marsalis on Music, introducing families, children, and music-hungry readers of all ages to the joy of good music, both classical and jazz. With an unrivaled freshness, charm, and sense of fun, Wynton Marsalis steps forward not only as a world-renowned jazz and classical performer, but as a great teacher in the tradition of Leonard Bernstein's Young People's Concerts. Using wonderfully appealing examples and analogies―likening the rhythmic structures of music to playing basketball or football, teaching sonata form through a story about chasing a pet hamster through a shopping mall, drawing unprecedented and revealing connections between classical music and jazz―Wynton Marsalis makes so-called "difficult" music vivid, immediately graspable, and most of all fun. The result is the perfect book for families and schools eager to give children a strong cultural foundation without boring them―no risk of that here!―or for anyone who has ever felt interested in "serious" music only to be intimidated by its intricacies. The most popular and acclaimed jazz musician and composer of his generation, Wynton Marsalis is also one of the world's leading classical trumpet virtuosos. Throughout his career he has made room for extensive work with children and students. He is co-founder and artistic director of Jazz at Lincoln Center. 150 full-color and 110 black-and-white photographs

Marsalis on Music

Arts & Photography

Music

Companion book to the popular PBS-TV series Marsalis on Music, introducing families, children, and music-hungry readers of all ages to the joy of good music, both classical and jazz. With an unrivaled freshness, charm, and sense of fun, Wynton Marsalis steps forward not only as a world-renowned jazz and classical performer, but as a great teacher in the tradition of Leonard Bernstein's Young People's Concerts. Using wonderfully appealing examples and analogies―likening the rhythmic structures of music to playing basketball or football, teaching sonata form through a story about chasing a pet hamster through a shopping mall, drawing unprecedented and revealing connections between classical music and jazz―Wynton Marsalis makes so-called "difficult" music vivid, immediately graspable, and most of all fun. The result is the perfect book for families and schools eager to give children a strong cultural foundation without boring them―no risk of that here!―or for anyone who has ever felt interested in "serious" music only to be intimidated by its intricacies. The most popular and acclaimed jazz musician and composer of his generation, Wynton Marsalis is also one of the world's leading classical trumpet virtuosos. Throughout his career he has made room for extensive work with children and students. He is co-founder and artistic director of Jazz at Lincoln Center. 150 full-color and 110 black-and-white photographs

W. W. Norton & Company, New York

In a swinging improvisation with poster artist Paul Rogers, Wynton Marsalis celebrates the spirit of twenty-six stellar jazz performers, from Armstrong to Dizzy — and showcases the same number of poetic forms. A is for "almighty" Louis Armstrong, whose amazing artistry unfolds in an accumulative poem shaped like the letter he stands for. As for sax master Sonny Rollins, whose "robust style radiates roundness," could there be a better tribute than a poetic rondeau? In an extraordinary feat, Pulitzer Prize-winning jazz composer Wynton Marsalis harmonizes his love and knowledge of jazz's most celebrated artists with an astounding diversity of poetic forms — from simple blues (Count Basie) to a complex pantoum (Charlie Parker), from a tender sonnet (Sarah Vaughan) to a performance poem snapping the rhythms of Art Blakey to life. Matching Wynton Marsalis's musical cadences note for note is the bold, poster-style art of Paul Rogers, highlighted in two phenomenal foldout spreads. The art's vibrant nostalgic feel is echoed in an exquisite design, with its size simulating an old 78 LP and its endpapers die-cut to mimic a vintage record sleeve. Complete with a discography and brief biographies of the featured musicians as well as notes on the various poetic forms, this is truly an incomparable gift book — for older children learning about jazz, longtime jazz aficionados, lovers of poetry, and readers of all ages who appreciate the finest in book design. Back matter includes biographical sketches, notes on the poetic forms, and information about the author and the illustrator.

Jazz ABZ: An A to Z Collection of Jazz Portraits

Children's Books

Biographies

Candlewick

The award-winning book by celebrated jazz composer Wynton Marsalis is now available with an exclusive art print by illustrator Paul Rogers. The award-winning book by celebrated jazz composer Wynton Marsalis is now available with an exclusive art print by illustrator Paul Rogers. Featured on National Public Radio’s ALL THINGS CONSIDERED Winner of a Bologna Ragazzi Award A Norman Sugarman Honor Book for Excellence in Children’s Biography An International Reading Association Children’s Book Award Winner Winner of a Lion and the Unicorn Award for Excellence in North American Poetry Four starred reviews (BOOKLIST, KIRKUS REVIEWS, PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL) Back matter includes biographical sketches, notes on the poetic forms, and information about the author and the illustrator.

Jazz ABZ: An A to Z Collection of Jazz Portraits with Art Print

The creators of Jazz ABZ are back for an encore! With infectious rhythm and rhyme, musical master Wynton Marsalis opens kids’ ears to the sounds around us. What’s that sound? The back door squeeeaks open, sounding like a noisy mouse nearby — eeek, eeeek, eeeek! Big trucks on the highway rrrrrrrumble, just as hunger makes a tummy grrrrumble. Ringing with exuberance and auditory delights, this second collaboration by world-renowned jazz musician and composer Wynton Marsalis and acclaimed illustrator Paul Rogers takes readers (and listeners) on a rollicking, clanging, clapping tour through the many sounds that fill a neighborhood.

Squeak, Rumble, Whomp! Whomp! Whomp!: A Sonic Adventure

Arts, Music & Photography

In this beautiful book, Pulitzer Prize—winning musician and composer Wynton Marsalis draws upon lessons he’s learned from a lifetime in jazz–lessons that can help us all move to higher ground. With wit and candor he demystifies the music that is the birthright of every American and demonstrates how a real understanding of the central idea of jazz–the unique balance between self-expression and sacrifice for the common good exemplified on the bandstand–can enrich every aspect of our lives, from the bedroom to the boardroom, from the schoolroom to City Hall. Along the way, Marsalis helps us understand the life-changing message of the blues, reveals secrets about playing–and listening–and passes on wisdom he has gleaned from working with three generations of great musicians. Illuminating and inspiring, Moving to Higher Ground is a master class on jazz and life, conducted by a brilliant American artist.

Moving to Higher Ground: How Jazz Can Change Your Life

Ward, Geoffrey

Random House Publishing Group

In To a Young Jazz Musician, the renowned jazz musician and Pulitzer Prize—winning composer Wynton Marsalis gives us an invaluable guide to making good music–and to leading a good life. Writing from the road “between the bus ride, the sound check, and the gig,” Marsalis passes on wisdom gained from experience, addressed to a young musician coming up–and to any of us at any stage of life. He writes that having humility is a way to continue to grow, to listen, and to learn; that patience is necessary for developing both technical proficiency and your own art rather than an imitation of someone else’s; and that rules are indispensable because “freedom lives in structure.” He offers lessons learned from his years as a performer and from his great forebears Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, and others; he explores the art of swing; he discusses why it is important to run toward your issues, not away; and he talks about what to do when your integrity runs up against the lack thereof in others and in our culture. He poetically expresses our need for healers: “All of it tracks back to how you heal your culture, one patient at a time, beginning with yourself.” This is a unique book, in which a great artist offers his personal thoughts, both on jazz and on how to live a better, more original, productive, and meaningful life. To a Young Jazz Musician is sure to be treasured by readers young and old, musicians, lovers of music, and anyone interested in being mentored by one of America’s most influential, generous, and talented artists.

To a Young Jazz Musician: Letters from the Road

Hinds, Selwyn Seyfu

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Marsalis, Wynton. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Marsalis, Wynton

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Marsalis, Wynton. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Jazz In The Bittersweet Blues Of Life

Jazz in the Bittersweet Blues

Sweet Swing Blues on the Road: A Year with Wynton Marsalis and His Septet

Marsalis on Music

Marsalis on Music

Jazz ABZ: An A to Z Collection of Jazz Portraits

Jazz ABZ: An A to Z Collection of Jazz Portraits with Art Print

Squeak, Rumble, Whomp! Whomp! Whomp!: A Sonic Adventure

Moving to Higher Ground: How Jazz Can Change Your Life

To a Young Jazz Musician: Letters from the Road