Artists | Folly Jazz Series | Folly Theater News

The Folly Mourns the Loss of Two Jazz Icons

- Jun 17

Yesterday was a tough day in the jazz world. We lost two jazz giants that made strides in their own rights.

Jazz Guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli & Patriarch of the Marsalis family, Ellis Marsalis, passed away on April 1st, 2020. While we are sad for any upsets in the jazz world like this, these two hold a special place in our hearts. Both Bucky & Ellis have played at the Folly Theater as a part of the Folly Jazz series.

We consider ourselves lucky that these great men have performed on the Folly stage and their families have continued on to our stage as well. Branford Marsalis opened the 37th season of the Folly Jazz Series in October of 2019 and John Pizzarelli will perform at the Folly in September of this year.

The entire team at the Folly offers their condolences and love to the Marsalis & Pizzarelli families in this time of heartbreak.

We encourage you to celebrate these great men and turn on their music. Groove out and appreciate them for the jazz icons they are.

Father and son Bucky and John Pizzarelli
Father and son Bucky and John Pizzarelli have been playing guitar together since the latter was a kid. Photo Credit: NPR, Steven Freeman/Courtesy of the artist
Ellis Marsalis Jr. with three of his sons, Delfeayo, left, Branford and Wynton, in 2011.
Ellis Marsalis Jr. with three of his sons, Delfeayo, left, Branford and Wynton, in 2011. Credit Chad Batka for The New York Times