From The Plantation To The Penitentiary

Performer: Wynton Marsalis
Engineer: David Robinson
Producer: Delfeayo Marsalis
Distributor: Caroline Distribution

Notes: Personnel: Wynton Marsalis (trumpet); Jennifer Sanon (vocals); Walter Blanding (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone); Dan Nimmer (piano). Audio Mixer: Patrick Smith . Liner Note Author: Stanley Crouch. Recording information: AM Studios, New York, NY (06/28/2006-06/29/2006); Right Track Studio A509, New York, NY (06/28/2006-06/29/2006). One of America's most important musical and cultural figures, trumpeter/composer Wynton Marsalis puts his money where his often outspoken mouth is with an artfully angry album about life in 21st-century America. Drawing from the elegance of Duke Ellington, the fury of Charlie Mingus and Nina Simone, the colors of his native New Orleans, and, of course, post-Charlie Parker bebop, Marsalis takes aim at what he sees as serious flaws in the American dream. "Supercapitalism" focuses on widespread greed, and "Where Y'all At?" takes on the consequences of activism (or a lack thereof), both past and present. The trumpet playing of Marsalis is, as usual, first-rate--synthesizing the influences of Satchmo, Miles, and Dizzy--and his arrangements are full of inspired flair, especially those for singer Jennifer Sanon. PLANTATION is a dazzling balancing act, juggling bluesy moods, righteous sarcasm, dissonance, and swing.

Entertainment Weekly (p.75) - "[He] sounds enraged....His message and soloing are well honed." -- Grade: A No Depression (p.85) - "The opening title track offers adventurous changes and inventive harmonies....From there the music grows more challenging and rewarding..." Mojo (Publisher) (p.120) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "Marsalis' tenure at Blue Note hits its artistic stride with this entertaining rant of a record."

Wynton Marsalis is credited with almost singlehandedly ushering in the powerful neo-traditionalist jazz movement of the 1980s and '90s. Along with father Ellis and brothers Branford, Delfeayo and Jason, Wynton is a member a New Orleans musical dynasty firmly ensconced in the journals of music history. Not only does Marsalis lead various groups of his own, but he also is the musical director of the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra and the composer of large-scale works like 1997's acclaimed "Blood on the Fields." As the most high-profile jazz musician of his era, Marsalis became a spokesman for the genre, and one of its biggest movers and shakers.

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