Born into a family of skilled musicians, Delfeayo Marsalis was destined for a life on the stage. Growing up in New Orleans, Marsalis was surrounded by music and interacted with many of the most famous performers of our time. He has since toured internationally with jazz legends such as Ray Charles, Art Blakey, Max Roach, Elvin Jones and Slide Hampton, as well as leading his own groups.
In 2008, he formed the Uptown Jazz Orchestra, a highly entertaining ensemble that focuses on maintaining important jazz traditions such as riff playing, New Orleans polyphony and spontaneous arrangements. Marsalis and the Uptown Jazz Orchestra will open the new Jazz at Kingsbury Hall series, part of UtahPresents 2024-25 season, on October 18 at 7:30PM.
The Jazz at Kingsbury Hall series was created in partnership with JazzSLC founders, Gordon and Connie Hanks, who have been at the forefront of the Salt Lake City jazz music scene since 1994. For almost three decades until the series closed in 2023, they produced nearly 250 concerts with over 500 of the world’s best artists, proving the popularity of jazz in the region. As an organization that brings exceptional artists from around the world to Salt Lake City, UtahPresents was well positioned to honor the legacy of Gordon and Connie Hanks with this new jazz series, continuing their tradition of curating topflight jazz for Utahns. The inaugural Jazz at Kingsbury Hall series also includes local group Hot House West Swing Orchestra on Jan 23, 2025, and Grammy-winning bassist Christian McBride & Ursa Major on Feb 22, 2025. For more information, visit utahpresents.org/jazz.
In addition to being an acclaimed trombonist and composer, Marsalis is also a Grammy Award-winning producer. He has prioritized music education throughout his career, founding Swinging with the Cool School in 2006 as form of children’s therapy in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The program now reaches over 6000 young people nationally, offering access to acoustic music and encouraging young people to develop a relationship to music outside of what’s popular on mainstream radio or streaming. While on campus, Marsalis will teach an open master class to University and 7-12th grade students at Dumke Recital Hall.
Ticket prices for the performance range from $10 – $60, with a $5 ticket for U of U students and a $10 ticket for non-U students. The jazz series package is 20% off for all three shows. Tickets are available at 801-581-7100 or utahpresents.org.