The Majesty of the Blues is an album by jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis that was released in 1989.
Background The first two selections on the album are played by the Wynton Marsalis Sextet.
The remaining three tracks (side B on the original LP release), a set entitled "New Orleans Function", feature the sextet with additional New Orleans musicians in a style influenced by the traditional New Orleans brass band. This section mirrors a traditional jazz funeral, with a dirge-like first selection ("The Death of Jazz"), then a spoken word section ("Premature Autopsies", an essay by Stanley Crouch performed by Jeremiah Wright) and preached like a minister at a graveyard, and a second line number ("Oh, But on the Third Day – Happy Feet Blues").
Track listing
Personnel The Wynton Marsalis Sextet Wynton Marsalis – trumpet Todd Williams – tenor and soprano saxophones Wessell Anderson – alto saxophone Marcus Roberts – piano Reginald Veal – double bass Herlin Riley – drums
The New Orleans Function Composed of the Wynton Marsalis Sextet and the following: Wynton Marsalis – second trumpet and plunger mute Teddy Riley – first trumpet Freddie Lonzo – trombone Michael White – clarinet Danny Barker – banjo
Technical personnel Steven Epstein – producer George Butler – executive producer Tim Geelan – engineer Dennis Ferrante – assistant engineer
References
External links "The Majesty of the Blues" on WyntonMarsalis.org