Ray Vega in Discussion with Wynton Marsalis

About

Latin jazz luminary Ray Vega and preeminent jazz icon and ambassador Wynton Marsalis sit down to talk about the state of jazz and the performing arts at this unique moment in time. 

This special video presentation will stream on June 8 at 7:15 pm. The link to watch this free event will be available here. Stay tuned. 

A native of the South Bronx, Ray Vega is a veteran of the bands of Tito Puente, Ray Barretto, Mongo Santamaria, Mario Bauza, Luis "Perico" Ortiz, Hector LaVoe, Johnny Pacheco, Larry Harlow, Pete "El Conde" Rodriguez, and Louie Ramirez, to name a few.

Ray has now established himself as one of the innovators of the international Jazz and Latin music scenes. A multi-talented trumpeter, percussionist, composer, and arranger, he presents Jazz from a refreshingly original and contemporary perspective. Vega grew up immersed in the heart of two vibrant New York City music scenes: Jazz and Salsa. He learned about these two musical styles, as well as jazz harmony and improvisation, with some of the great legends of modern jazz. In addition to his own celebrated work as an artist and bandleader, he has performed and recorded with a dizzying array of iconic jazz artists, including work on Grammy-winning albums.

Wynton Marsalis is an internationally acclaimed musician, composer and bandleader, an educator and a leading advocate of American culture. He has created and performed an expansive range of music from quartets to big bands, chamber music ensembles to symphony orchestras and tap dance to ballet, expanding the vocabulary for jazz and classical music with a vital body of work that places him among the world’s finest musicians and composers.

Always swinging, Marsalis blows his trumpet with a clear tone, a depth of emotion and a unique, virtuosic style derived from an encyclopedic range of trumpet techniques. When you hear Marsalis play, you’re hearing life being played out through music.