Solo Piano Reflections

If poetry is the "distilled essence of prose", then ELLIS MARSALIS has become a rare poet of the piano. Samuel Taylor Coleridge, in his "Lectures of Shakespeare and Milton", said: "I wish clever young poets would remember my homely definitions of prose and poetry; that is, Prose-words in their best order; Poetry-the best words in their best order." That best solves, for me, the attempt to explain just what makes ELLIS MARSALIS one of the brightest lights on the pianistic (and musical) horizon today. Why Robert Palmer, a frequent contributor to so unlikely a combination as Rolling Stone and The New York Times, termed him "New Orleans' resident genius". We may simply take Coleridge's quotation, and, with a slight substitution, define the delightful excellence which is the summation of both the compositional and playing efforts of ELLIS MARSALIS: The best notes in their best order. That sounds so simple and yet that summit is reached by so few. And if it is ever to happen, it takes TIME. Time not only to develop the playing skills every musician must have in order to achieve a high degree of proficiency (the ability to translate concept to performance with ease) but even more importantly, time for thought and time for reflection. Then, only then, and so very rarely, can the ideal be reached: THE BEST NOTES IN THEIR BEST ORDER. ELLIS MARSALIS has taken that time. Paul Lentz For information on availabilities for ELLIS MARSALIS (Concerts, Clinics, club performances) contact: THE PARAMOUNT AGENCY 144 Portland Street New Orleans, La. 70124 504/488-3952 For additional records and published music, contact: ELM RECORDS (a subsidiary of Branwynne Music) P.O. Box 4141 New Orleans, La. 70118