Wynton Marsalis is, of course, no stranger to outspokenness and controversy. An interesting read about the overt New Orleans trumpet player and 46 year-old jazz stalwart, quick to disparage rap, hip hop, the influence of fusion & funk in the course of mainstream jazz, in this online Guardian Unlimited Arts article, "Shock of the new" by John Lewis. Marsalis speaks, no-holds barred, once again as the self-professed modern curator of the state of jazz. (Far be it from us to defend rap music, but to each his own.)

Interesting his latest CD, Plantation to the Penitentiary debuted in early March and one of the tracks includes a rap and flaming verbal social commentary. Even if it isn't mandolin-centered, we like to endorse and point people to new jazz CDs worth listening to.

Unfortunately, this will not be one of them.

Read article: Shock of the New

Posted by Ted at April 13, 2007 2:54 PM