The history of jazz lets us know that this period in our history is not the only period we've come through together. If we truly understood the history of our national arts, we'd know that we have mutual aspirations, a shared history, in good times and bad.
Wynton MarsalisFor me as a person who's in the arts and as someone who understands the magnitude of our contributions and the price that was paid to contribute to that, that we just have not gotten that together. I will do all that I can to get in front of our kids, to try to teach them, but at a certain point the people have to want it and come towards it.
Wynton MarsalisThe reason why the music [jazz] is important is because it's an art form-an ancient art form-that takes in the mythology of our people.
Wynton MarsalisThis is our bandstand. If you don't want to play, get up off the instrument and leave.
Wynton Marsalis