Wayne Marshall

Wynton Marsalis' Swing Symphony

31 July, 2012

How cool is this! Here I am in this lovely city of Toulouse conducting the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and Wynton Marsalis for his newly composed Swing Symphony. What a Fantastic piece!

Tonight’s the concert. We are performing in Marciac and the concert will be streamed live on “https://new.livestream.com/wyntonmarsalis/MarciacSwingSymphony”

Marsalis’ Swing Symphony is one of those pieces that gives me a real high. It is a complex, rhythmic piece of music interlaced with complicated rhythms, syncopations, riffs fused with classical sounds. It is a fusion of jazz with classical reminiscent of many different styles brought together under one umbrella.

Working with the Orchestra National du Capitole de Toulouse has also been a great experience. We had a limited time to put this work together but they have responded to it with ease. As soon as JALC came in to rehearse with us everything started falling into place. It was like putting a jigsaw puzzle together and then putting the final touches for our last rehearsal yesterday.

I am so very much looking forward to tonight’s concert. It will be a real treat. Working again with my great friend Wynton Marsalis is fantastic. I have enjoyed his insight, his superb musicianship and his soulful outlook on music and life. What can I say? Words are not enough!