The Majesty of the Blues
| The Majesty of the Blues | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Wynton Marsalis | ||||
| Released | June 13, 1989 | |||
| Recorded | 27 October & 28 October 1988 | |||
| Studio | RCA Studio A | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Length | 59:57 | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Producer | Steven Epstein, George Butler | |||
| Wynton Marsalis chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Rolling Stone |   [1] |
| Allmusic | [2] |
The Majesty of the Blues is an album by jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis that was released in 1989.
Background
The first two selections on the album are played by the Wynton Marsalis Sextet, and the remaining three tracks (side B on the original LP release), a set entitled "New Orleans Function", features the sextet along with additional New Orleans musicians in a style strongly influenced by the traditional New Orleans brass band.
This section mirrors a traditional jazz funeral, with a dirge-like first selection ("The Death of Jazz"), then a spoken word section ("Premature Autopsies", an essay by Stanley Crouch performed by Reverend Jeremiah Wright, Jr.), preached like a minister saying the final words at the graveyard, and finally a second line number ("Oh, But on the Third Day – Happy Feet Blues").
Track listing
All songs written by Wynton Marsalis, except for the sermon, written by Stanley Crouch.
| Side A (The Wynton Marsalis Sextet) | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length |
| 1. | "The Majesty of the Blues (The Puheeman Strut)" | 15:06 |
| 2. | "Hickory Dickory Dock" | 9:06 |
| Side B (The New Orleans Function) | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length |
| 3. | "The Death of Jazz" | 12:39 |
| 4. | "Premature Autopsies (Sermon)" (Sermon performed by Reverend Jeremiah Wright, Jr.) | 16:22 |
| 5. | "Oh, But on the Third Day (Happy Feet Blues)" | 6:44 |
Personnel
The Wynton Marsalis Sextet
- Wynton Marsalis – trumpet
- Marcus Roberts – piano
- Todd Williams – tenor and soprano saxophones
- Wessell Anderson – alto saxophone
- Reginald Veal – double bass
- Herlin Riley – drums
The New Orleans Function
Composed of the Wynton Marsalis Sextet and the following:
- Teddy Riley – first trumpet
- Wynton Marsalis – second trumpet and plunger mute
- Freddie Lonzo – trombone
- Michael White – clarinet
- Danny Barker – banjo
Technical Personnel
- Steven Epstein – producer
- George Butler – executive producer
- Tim Geelan – engineer
- Dennis Ferrante – assistant engineer