Memory Project: Wynton Marsalis (On Race, Jewish Music, Spirituals, and Bernstein's Legacy)

Leonard Bernstein at 100 Memory Project
Wynton Marsalis discusses Bernstein's legacy, addressing the topics of race, Jewish music, and African American spirituals.
This interview was conducted in 2018 by the National Museum of American Jewish History, located on Historic Independence Mall in Philadelphia, as part of the original exhibition "Leonard Bernstein: The Power of Music".
On view March 16 - September 2, 2018. More info: www.nmajh.org/...
Submit your memories of Leonard Bernstein here: leonardbernste...

[@leslieackerman4189]

Marsalis deserves all of the admiration he gets, and then some. He is such a scholar of music. This 7 minute lecture, miles long and kilometers wide is a masterful lesson on American Music and beloved Bernstein in it. Another interesting thing is that he NEVER utters the word "Race", while the title does. A loaded word more so these times (2021) where is misused and abused, and even more, because you cannot consider Judaism a RACE! It is a nation, a culture (with enormous legacy and influence in American culture) but not a race. Title should be changed to a less 'loaded' approach..

[@shgarrett624]

Wynton is just wonderful 💗💗💗💗👑👑👑👑

[@paulbrewer2374]

“…his willingness to step out into that breach…” Lenny always did - in fearlessness and with compassion.

[@delmanglar]

Jews made great contribution to making Cuban (and puertorrican) misic so popular in NYC back in the days... Jerry Massuci with Fania Records and of course: el judío maravilloso Larry Harlow, great keyboard player, director and band leader. In a time where it was hard for Cuban musicians to be known worldwide, at least they helped the composers be recognized and the songs be famous.

[@jazzandbeyond7549]

Jerry was Italian American, not Jewish.

[@cazmclaughlin8870]

Without a doubt, Berstein left an aura of everlasting respect on every single person who came into contact with both the man and his music. His ability to take a complex piece and break it down into simple parts for old and young alike was astounding. I remember as a youth watching a program on tv where he explains the true meaning of jazz to those wanting to be a jazz musician. He told it in parable form and the moral was simple: "Jazz isn't copying what you hear... it's what you feel". What an Epiphany!

[@annedwyer797]

I think perhaps the greatest talent possessed (besides their musicianship, composing, conducting, etc.) by geniuses like Bernstein and Marsalis is their ability to communicate with and educate the public. Both of them were/are supremely gifted and have charisma (Lenny's charisma was obvious, while Wynton's is a little more subtle). I think that's what makes a great musician truly great: they reach the masses, draw them in, help them become more knowledgeable and that enhances their enjoyment of music. Wynton has really built his legacy with his helmsmanship of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and the various activities he does as a music educator. I'm excited about

[@annedwyer797]

(sorry)...I'm really excited about the celebration of Bernstein at 100! I'v recently watched several "Young People's Concerts" (even though I'm not so young!) (on TCM and KZbin), learned a few things from each one, and I'm gonna get even more into Bernstein and his spreading the gospel of music.

[@ousmanediallo-ne6mf]

👍🏿❤️🙏🏿