Jazz legend Wynton Marsalis kicked off the citywide celebration of JazzAppreciation Month at the Kimmel Center on Tuesday. Smithsonian NationalMuseum of African Art director Johnetta B, Cole introduced Marsalis bysaying she loves "jazz as much as the devil loves sin."The trumpeter then delivered a moving lecture, interwoven withmusical performances and highlighting the value of arts to our society.Marsalis had originally written this mixed performance piece when he wasasked to give the prestigious Nancy Hanks Lecture, the nation'sforemost forum for arts advocacy at the Kennedy Center in Washington,D.C. Some of the audience squirmed in their seats when he reminded themof America's history of slavery, racism and misogyny and mocked both thewhite face and black face versions of the minstrel show. His speechmostly focused on the current denigration of arts in society. He askedthe audience to ponder, "A financial inheritance can be accuratelyassessed in dollars, but what is the value of an artistic heritage? Whocalculates the value of 'Amazing Grace' or 'Yankee Doodle' or 'Go DownMoses'?"During the Q&A, Marsalis encouraged kids to go to college andstudy more than music, and he made commitments to local schools. Hepromised to provide music to one local school and come to another "evenif it took two years." He gave detailed tips to aspiring musicians."Practice is the price that you pay to be good," said Marsalis, whorecommended practicing your weakest skill the most. "Playing all the waythrough, do not stop for the parts that you stumble."Jazz soundsLuckily for Philadelphians, there will bemore chances to hear world-class jazz at the Kimmel Center, whichDownbeat magazine named one of the top venues in the world to hear jazz.Matt Wolf, vice president of programming at the Kimmel Center,highlighted an upcoming April 14 tribute by Grammy winner Danilio Perezto the music of Philadelphian McCoy Tyner."Many do not realize the rich history of Philadelphia jazz: JohnnyColtrane, Benny Golson, Charlie Biddle, Terrell Stafford and the HeathBrothers," he said.
