Piece image

NEA Jazz Master Marian McPartland tells of her beginnings with jazz

Series: Jazz Masters Moments
From: National Endowment for the Arts
Length: 00:00:59

MARIAN MCPARTLAND DEVELOPED HER INTEREST IN JAZZ FROM HER SISTER'S BOYFRIEND. TODAY MARIAN MCPARTLAND IS A CELEBRATED PIANIST, COMPOSER AND LEGEND. Read the full description.

Newjazzlogo_small

NEA Jazz Masters Moments highlight the jazz greats honored through the NEA Jazz Masters, a comprehensive program of jazz support that includes the NEA Jazz Masters Award, an NEA Jazz Masters tour with performances and educational activities, radio programming, a compilation CD, educational resources, and publications and reports. Nearly 100 radio segments feature eighteen NEA Jazz Masters, providing musical samples, historical information, and first-person anecdotes designed to give listeners added insight into the artists and their art.

To hear the full audio, sign up for a free PRX account or log in.

Also in the Jazz Masters Moments series

Piece image

Moments with Jazz Master, Von Freeman (00:03:30)
From: National Endowment for the Arts

3 Moments with tenor saxophonist and NEA Jazz Master Von Freeman.
Piece image

Moments with Jazz Master, Charlie Haden (00:06:26)
From: National Endowment for the Arts

4 Moments with bassist Charlie Haden.
Piece image

Moments with Jazz Master Jack DeJohnette (00:04:58)
From: National Endowment for the Arts

4 Moments with legendary drummer and NEA Jazz Master Jack DeJohnette
Piece image

Moments with Jazz Master Sheila Jordan (00:07:26)
From: National Endowment for the Arts

5 Moments with vocalist and NEA Jazz Master, Sheila Jordan.
Piece image

Moments with NEA Jazz Master Jimmy Owens (00:05:56)
From: National Endowment for the Arts

4 "Moments" with trumpeter, flugelhornist, and advocate, Jimmy Owens.
Piece image

NEA Jazz Master Orrin Keepnews (00:08:29)
From: National Endowment for the Arts

Five Moments with producer and 2011 NEA Jazz Master Orrin Keepnews.
Piece image

NEA Jazz Master Johnny Mandel (00:09:00)
From: National Endowment for the Arts

Six Moments with 2011 NEA Jazz Master, composer, and arranger Johnny Mandel.
Piece image

NEA Jazz Master Wynton Marsalis (00:04:29)
From: National Endowment for the Arts

Three Moments featuring trumpeter, bandleader, and 2011 NEA Jazz Master, Wynton Marsalis.
Piece image

NEA Jazz Master Jason Marsalis (00:07:29)
From: National Endowment for the Arts

Two Moments featuring 2011 NEA Jazz Master Jason Marsalis
Piece image

NEA Jazz Master Hubert Laws (00:06:28)
From: National Endowment for the Arts

Four Jazz Moments featuring flutist and 2011 NEA Jazz Master, Hubert Laws.

Piece Description

NEA Jazz Masters Moments highlight the jazz greats honored through the NEA Jazz Masters, a comprehensive program of jazz support that includes the NEA Jazz Masters Award, an NEA Jazz Masters tour with performances and educational activities, radio programming, a compilation CD, educational resources, and publications and reports. Nearly 100 radio segments feature eighteen NEA Jazz Masters, providing musical samples, historical information, and first-person anecdotes designed to give listeners added insight into the artists and their art.

Transcript

NOW, A JAZZ MOMENT…
MUSIC: I Love You
CD: Windows, Concord CCD2-2233-2, (disc 2, cut1)

NEA JAZZ MASTER MARIAN MCPARTLAND
Marian McPartland: My sister had a boyfriend who was really into jazz but she wasn’t that keen. So he wanted to talk about jazz to somebody, so he switched to me. It was like, I’m here, I’d like to hear that music. That’s when I really got to hear some jazz.

MCPARTLAND’S MUSICAL EDUCATION CONTINUED AT LONDON’S GUIDHALL SCHOOL OF MUSIC WHERE SHE STUDIED CLASSICAL PIANO.
Marian McPartland: And I would be practicing and then I would try to play some jazz. The whole thing came to a head because I was doing this and the professor heard me, opened the practice room door and said, stop playing that trash!

THIS EXPERIENCE ONLY FUELED HER PASSION TO PLAY JAZZ. TODAY MARIAN MCPARTLAND IS A CELEBRATED PIANIST, COMPOSER AND LEGEND. THIS JAZZ M...
Read the full transcript

Additional Credits

If you have any questions please contact Liz Mehaffey (mehaffeye@arts.gov) or Adam Kampe (kampea@arts.gov) at the NEA.

Related Website

http://www.nea.gov/national/jazz/index.html