Delfeayo Marsalis on Street Rhythms and the Spirit of Mardi Gras

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In this episode of Backstage Bay Area, host Steve Roby sits down with acclaimed trombonist, producer, and educator Delfeayo Marsalis. A 2011 NEA Jazz Master and a member of New Orleans' legendary musical first family, Marsalis has earned a reputation as a "merchant of joy" and a vital ambassador for the Crescent City's culture.

Delfeayo shares stories from his childhood in Kendall, Louisiana, where he shared a room with his father, Ellis, while his brothers, Branford and Wynton, shared another. He explains how his parents shaped his approach to the bandstand and his belief that music is not just what is on the page but what you hear and experience. We also dive into the origins of the Uptown Jazz Orchestra (UJO)—a 14-piece ensemble founded in 2008 to preserve and advance the city's street rhythms, swing tradition, and brass-band energy.

Playlist

• Delfeayo Marsalis & The Uptown Jazz Orchestra "Raid on the Mingus House Party" from Jazz Party. (Troubadour Jass Records)
• Delfeayo Marsalis & The Uptown Jazz Orchestra "Sidewalk Sizzle" from Crescent City Jewels, (Troubadour Jass Records)

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