This month Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz At Lincoln Center are in the UK for a major residency at the Barbican and a regional tour. Marsalis has over many years seen part of his role in jazz as a mentor to a new generation of players and while in London he and the orchestra will be working with local young musicians and a special concert at the Hackney Empire with a mission to inspire and assist them as they begin their careers. Ahead of the tour Wynton talks to Kevin Le Gendre.



Studios have seen many moments of magic in jazz over the years but the stage remains the stuff of dreams. While the days of Miles and the Fillmore may have passed amid the relative economic decline of the music there is still a high incidence of grandstand gigs to be savoured in all quarters. It’s more about your local Miles and your local, albeit smaller Fillmore. 



There could perhaps, these days, be further definitions of the word gig, though. When the Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra rolls its caravan of 30 strong instrument-wielding members, education and admin staff into London in mid-June, all under the direction of Wynton Marsalis, the performance will centre as much offstage as on it. The spotlight will fall on the classroom and lecture theatre as leader and band members undertake an extensive programme of educational activities as well as concerts at the Barbican, the Hackney Empire and the Guildhall. Playing the music alone appears not to suffice. Showing how it is done is equally on the agenda.

This is an extract from Jazzwise Issue #142 – to read the full article click here to subscribe and receive a FREE copy of Denys Baptiste's 'Let Freedom Ring!'.