Ellis Marsalis

Ellis Marsalis (born 1934) is an American musician. He is considered one of the premier pianists in modern jazz. Ellis Marsalis is the son of the late Ellis Marsalis, Sr., a businessman and social activis

Ellis Marsalis (born 1934) is an American musician. He is considered one of the premier pianists in modern jazz. Ellis Marsalis is the son of the late Ellis Marsalis, Sr., a businessman and social activist.

From his first professional performance with "The Groovy Boys" over fifty years ago, Ellis Marsalis has been a major influence in jazz. At that time, Marsalis was one of the few New Orleans' musicians who did not specialize in Dixieland or rhythm and blues. He played with fellow modernists including Cannonball Adderley, Nat Adderley, and Al Hirt, becoming one of the most respected pianists in jazz. Though he has recorded almost twenty of his own albums, and was featured on many discs with such jazz greats as David “Fathead” Newman, Eddie Harris, Marcus Roberts, and Courtney Pine, he shunned the spotlight to focus on teaching.