Tue 12/13 @ 7:30PM
Last December, Akron’s Tuesday Musical Association had the Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass booked to perform a holiday concert at the Akron Civic Theatre but illness cancelled the concert. So they’re giving it another shot, this time at University of Akron’s E.J. Thomas Hall.
Yes, Rodney is a member of THAT family — the New Orleans dynasty that spawned brothers Wynton (trumpet), Branford (saxophone), Jason (drums) and Delfeayo (trombone). He’s their cousin. He took classical trumpet lessons from his cousin Wynton who is six years older, before heading north to studio at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where he’s now based. He’s performed as a soloist with many orchestras (he made his debut with the New Orleans Symphony when he was just 15) and toured around the world.
He’s also director of an ensemble he’s dubbed the Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass. The ten-musician group is a mix of genders, ages and races — an appealing change from the all-white male ensembles we’ve seen forever and demonstration that talent comes in a variety of packages.
The group’s holiday tour is a go this year, with its blend of classical, swing and New Orleans jazz, including seasonal selections from The Nutcracker and Handel’s Messiah as well as Leonard Bernstein compositions from West Side Story.
For tickets go to tuesdaymusical/the-rodney-marsalis-philadelphia-big-brass/.