Jazz Vibist Jason Marsalis Joins the Yamaha Artist Roster

A son of pianist and educator Ellis Marsalis and his wife Dolores, Jason began sitting in with his father’s jazz group at a young age, and eventually became a steady member of the band. He attended the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts High School and continued to develop his skills by playing gigs with his father and brothers, Wynton, Branford and Delfeayo. Marsalis’s touring career bloomed after high school when he performed with jazz pianist Marcus Roberts. Despite his heavy tour schedule, Marsalis attended Loyola University in New Orleans and studied composition with Roger Dickerson.

“Jason continues to inspire people worldwide with his mastery as an artist and an educator,” said John Wittmann, director of Artist Relations and Education, Yamaha Artist Services Indianapolis. “With his exceptional skill on jazz vibraphone and international exposure, we look forward to a long, fruitful relationship.”

Marsalis has recorded, performed, or toured with a wide variety of artists, including Joe Henderson, Lionel Hampton, Casa Samba, Dr. Michael White, Ellis Marsalis, Thelonious Monk, Aretha Franklin, Christian Fabien and his own Latin-jazz group Los Hombres Calientes, among others. Marsalis and the entire Marsalis family received the National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters award in 2009, and appeared at the White House and the Kennedy Center in tributes to his father Ellis.

"Yamaha has always been reliable with instruments and the vibraphone is no exception to this,” said Marsalis, who performs with Yamaha’s three octave Gold Professional Gold Tour Vibraphone model, YV-3710 with a matte finish. “The instrument has a great, warm sound and is very comfortable to play.”

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