Ellis Marsalis & Marcus Roberts - Duo Piano Rehearsal (1991)

Two perspectives on contemporary jazz piano came into sharp focus at WHYY Studios in Philadelphia on this mid-February day of 1991. Seated at opposite ends of a pair of large Steinways, Marcus Roberts and Ellis Marsalis performed a program of solo and duo piano improvisations whose source material was the rich library of American jazz and pop songs, and whose style ranged from stride piano to free floating bebop. The interaction between the two players--separated in age by more than three decades--was surprisingly facile. Roberts spent a few years as the piano mainstay in the rhythm section of Wynton Marsalis' band, and the indirect linkage seems to have resulted in a genuine musical empathy between the elder Marsalis and the younger pianist.

WHYY Studios

Philadelphia PA  

February, 1991

Marcus solo:

3 tr.

Ellis Solo:

3 tr.

Ellis and Marcus Together:

8 tr.

Thanks (Solidfiles)

Ellis Marsalis - Ellis Marsalis Trio (1990)

Pianist Ellis Marsalis is in excellent form for this trio outing with bassist Bob Hurst and drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts. The performances fall generally into the medium-tempo range, with Ellis scattering some witty song quotes throughout the lightly swinging renditions. The high points include one of the more delightful versions ever of Johnny Mandel's "Emily," some close interplay during "Little Niles" and a tongue-in-cheek version of "Limehouse Blues" that includes slapped bass, parade rhythms and Marsalis trying in vain to sound Dixielandish. One programming error should be noted: there is no such song as "Just Squeeze Me" and, rather than the one performed being Fats Waller's "Squeeze Me," it is actually Duke Ellington's "Squeeze Me, But Please Don't Tease Me." ~ Scott Yanow

Ellis Marsalis - piano

Bob Hurst - bass

Jeff "Tain" Watts - drums

11 tr.

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