Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra Brings Performance & Education To Greensboro

UNCG Now

The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (JLCO) is busy at work here in the Triad. The world-renowned band, and its leader, Wynton Marsalis are pursuing their mission to raise jazz awareness through performance and education.

Band members are teaching music students on the UNC Greensboro campus Thursday, and acclaimed trumpeter Marsalis will hold a public talk. He’s influenced an entire generation of musicians, like UNCG professor Brandon Lee. Lee first joined the JLCO as a teenager, and still tours with the group when his busy teaching schedule allows. He spoke to WFDD's David Ford 

Interview Highlights: 

On his early musical influence: 


On his [Wynton Marsalis'] album, Standard Time Volume 2, there was just something about Wynton’s sound that I gravitated toward, especially after I started playing the trumpet. Since then, growing up, trying to find every single record of his, and [I] finally [had] the opportunity to meet him in person when I was fifteen. I mean, everything about the way that I would like to carry myself in the music — I mean he’s just influenced me in so many ways. And that was everything leading up to my going to Juilliard, and playing with Jazz at Lincoln Center.


UNCG Professor and Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra trumpeter Brandon Lee. (Photo credit: Daniel Rice)On Wynton Marsalis’ playing philosophy:


The thing that Wynton is speaking to is the idea that no matter if you’re in the practice room or not, you should approach it as though you are performing, and as though you’re trying to play at the highest level.


On performing in the JLCO;


It’s definitely something to be around musicians that are at such a high level all the time — great thinkers of the music and obviously great players. It’s not about who’s the best person in the orchestra, it’s ...

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