Grammy winner Marsalis talks with VGCC students
World-renowned saxophonist Branford Marsalis visited Vance-Granville Community College’s main campus on Feb. 10 to talk with students in an American Music course, and with other VGCC students, faculty and staff who crowded an auditorium to see the accomplished musician. Marsalis, who lives in Durham, came at the invitation of his friend, Michael Stephenson , a fellow saxophonist and VGCC music instructor. His visit coincided with the college’s celebration of Black History Month.
Stephenson introduced Marsalis, a three-time Grammy Award-winning performer, composer and producer, as “the perfect guest to talk about American music.” Marsalis proceeded to share ideas about music and life with the students in an informal, 80-minute session. Asked to describe the “big break” in his musical career, Marsalis said it had not happened, but that working hard, while being critical of oneself, was the only way to succeed. When a student sought advice on how a new listener can appreciate jazz, Marsalis said, “Jazz, and instrumental music generally, is like a foreign language, so to understand it, you have to get used to it and pay attention.” He recommended listening to earlier jazz artists like Louis Armstrong and Fats Waller before moving on to more recent musicians who learned from those pioneers. Marsalis said that he was not a jazz lover as a child, even though his father, Ellis Marsalis, was a great jazz pianist. Marsalis has recorded in a variety of genres of music, although he is most well-known for jazz. He has also worked in film, served as the musical director of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno for two years, and taught at universities including North Carolina Central University. Marsalis emphasized the importance of music as part of education. “I think instrumental music is particularly important, because it forces you to think and use your imagination,” he said. “Instrumental music is about whatever you want it to be about, unlike music with lyrics.”
Marsalis, a native of New Orleans, also described his experience participating in relief efforts following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, which he said was “uplifting.” He is the honorary chair of the New Orleans Habitat for Humanity effort, and together with his friend Harry Connick, Jr. conceived the Habitat Musicians’ Village in the city’s historic Ninth Ward. He was optimistic about the city’s future. “People ask me if New Orleans will come back, but I say, it never left,” Marsalis said. “It will emerge even better than it was.”
Above: VGCC President Randy Parker (left) shakes hands with Branford Marsalis after the world-renowned musician spoke with VGCC students on Feb. 10 (VGCC photo)
