A jazz virtuoso will be performing at the Opera House on Wednesday, July 18. From a family of New Orleans musicians, Delfeayo Marsalis and his family have earned the title “First Family of Jazz.”

Marsalis is the fourth son of Delores and Ellis Marsalis. He not only has had the benefit of growing up in a family of musicians who received the National Endowment for the Arts Award in 2011, with pianist father, a music professor at the University of New Orleans; brother Branford Marsalis, a saxophone player who was Jay Leno’s band director in the mid-‘90s; brother Wynton Marsalis, a legendary trumpet player who released a blues album with Eric Clapton in 2011 and was jazz orchestra director at Lincoln Center in New York; and gifted drummer and vibraphone player brother Jason Marsalis.

Delfeayo Marsalis and his family have been surrounded by and learned from the great jazz musicians of our time.

“We had great teachers and one of the great things about the New Orleans tradition is that the older musicians like Shawn Fernandez, Willie Singleton, Kidd Jordan and Alvin Batiste, taught the younger musicians. A great many players who are now in their 50s were taught by Danny Barker. Of course we had the Nevilles and the Andrews and plenty of guys growing up in families playing,” Delfeayo Marsalis said in a phone interview.

Marsalis graduated from Berklee College of Music in Boston, followed by his master’s in jazz performance from the University of Louisville.

“You have to have an open mind about jazz,” he said. “The great thing about jazz is that it has always supported the idea of come as you are.”

Marsalis plays trombone and composes music on the piano. He has performed with Ray Charles, Art Blakey and Elvin Jones. He has recorded six albums since 1992 and is widely known for his skill as an innovative acoustic jazz recording engineer.

On Wednesday night, he will bring to the Opera House stage a septet: trumpet, drums, piano, bass, saxophone, vocals and, of course, trombone. The musical theme is “Speak Easy,” focusing on music from the Roaring ’20s Prohibition Era.

“Tunes from this era were in the major keys. Basically up until 1947 to 1948, music was constructed in major keys; after 1951 or 1952, then you get into the minor keys where you have a different mote or movement happening,” Marsalis said. “Ultimately, in all areas of jazz, it’s really about constructing melodies and improvising over those melodies.”

This will be the third summer that Marsalis has entertained an audience at the Opera House.

“We love having Delfeayo come to the Opera House each summer,” Executive Director Cathy Sherrill said. “It’s almost a tradition at this point thanks to the generosity of the Music Doing Good Foundation. Delfeayo and his combo always bring a dynamic, unforgettable show to Boothbay Harbor. We can’t wait to get them back on stage.”

Inspired by a great love of family and music, Marsalis founded the Uptown Music Theater in New Orleans in 2000. The theater company has produced many original plays and won talent awards featuring over 300 inner city children since its inception.

Marsalis is director of jazz for the Music Doing Good Foundation, whose Board of Directors president is summer resident Marie Bosarge. “Through world class concert events and music education programs, we generate friends and funds for outstanding non-profits working in health, education, music and children’s charities, and enable patrons to give back to the community,” according to the organization’s website.
Marsalis looks forward to returning to Maine for lobsters and especially cooler weather. At the time of the interview, Marsalis was mixing a CD that he recorded with his father in California. The CD should be released next year.