Squeak, Rumble, Whomp! Whomp! Whomp! by Wynton Marsalis

In 2011, Marsalis and rock guitarist Eric Clapton performed together in a Jazz at Lincoln Center concert. The orchestra performs at its home venue, Rose Hall, goes on tour, visits schools, appears on radio and television, and produces albums through its label, Blue Engine Records.

Marsalis became artistic director of the center and the musical director of the band, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. The success of the series led to Jazz at Lincoln Center becoming a department at Lincoln Center, then to becoming an independent entity in 1996 alongside organizations such as the New York Philharmonic and the Metropolitan Opera. In 1987, Marsalis helped start the Classical Jazz summer concert series at Lincoln Center in New York City. Marsalis has established himself as a lecturer and musical ambassador, speaking and performing on six of the seven continents. Other influences include Clifford Brown, Freddie Hubbard, and Adolph Herseth. When asked about influences on his playing style, he cites Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Harry Sweets Edison, Clark Terry, Dizzy Gillespie, Jelly Roll Morton, Charlie Parker, Wayne Shorter, Thelonious Monk, Cootie Williams, Ray Nance, Maurice André, and Adolph Hofner. After a while, the band expanded to include Wessell Anderson, Wycliffe Gordon, Eric Reed, Herlin Riley, Reginald Veal, and Todd Williams.

When Branford and Kenny Kirkland left three years later to record and tour with Sting, Marsalis formed another quartet, this time with Marcus Roberts on piano, Robert Hurst on double bass, and Watts on drums. In 1982, he established a quintet with his brother Branford Marsalis, Kenny Kirkland, Charnett Moffett, and Jeff 'Tain' Watts. After signing a contract with Columbia, he recorded his first solo album. He recorded for the first time with Blakey and one year later he went on tour with Herbie Hancock. He has said that years of playing with Blakey influenced his decision. He changed his mind about his career and turned to jazz.

In 1980, he toured Europe as a member of the Art Blakey big band, becoming a member of The Jazz Messengers and remaining with Blakey until 1982. He intended to pursue a career in classical music. In 1979, he moved to New York City to attend the Juilliard School for a Bachelor of Music in trumpet performance, leaving before graduating in 1981.

Squeak, Rumble, Whomp! Whomp! Whomp! by Wynton Marsalis