A full house welcomed legendary trumpeter Wynton Marsalis at Tulane University to mark the return of students and the renewal of the city of New Orleans.
Marsalis, clutching a hand over his heart as he walked on stage to a standing ovation, began with a short speech.
Marsalis addressed the students about their duty to hold elders and peers accountable for the restoration of New Orleans. “The best way to be is to do,” Marsalis said.
Marsalis added that young people needed to be critical of government corruption, now more than ever. He noted President Bush’s recent promise to New Orleans to rebuild its levees and how Karl Rove, Bush’s senior adviser assigned to the project, has not been heard from.
“Do not let this moment pass,” Marsalis said. “New Orleans will be rehabilitated with intensity, passion and impatience that only intelligent young people can bring.”
Tulane President Scott Cowen began the evening by honoring Martin Luther King Jr. Cowen called upon the students of Tulane, Loyola, Xavier and Dillard to mimic the actions and goodwill of King by citing him: “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
Governor Kathleen Blanco and Lieutenant Governor Mitch Landrieu also attended the event. Blanco gave a speech about recovery through education. She encouraged students to battle recent discouraging situations with optimism, energy and spirit. Blanco also introduced her new program, Summer of Service, that encourages young people to participate in volunteer programs such as Habitat for Humanity, AmeriCorp and City Gear for the rebuilding of coastal Louisiana.
Landrieu also made a short speech about the current rebuilding phase of New Orleans. He said that we must not become separated by race, class or religion but instead live up to our obligation to restore the city together in order to “give the levees something to protect.”
After his speech, Marsalis introduced his band, which included his father Ellis Marsalis on piano.
The set began with the soulful “St. James Infirmary” followed by a more upbeat “Over in the Glory Land.”
Surprise guest Irving Mayfield joined Marsalis on trumpet for the “New Orleans Function” and “The Second Line.” Marsalis and Mayfield danced out notes while audience members tapped along and applauded at solos that seemed to make the musicians inhuman.
A sixth standing ovation brought Marsalis back on stage for an encore of George Gershwin’s “Embraceable You.”
Cowen closed by praising the brilliance and necessity of the performance saying, “If you wondered why you came back to New Orleans, this was it.”
Laurén Bienvenue can be reached at [email protected].
