BBC Proms · Season 47 · Episode 5

BBC Proms - Live

Thursday, August 19

The brilliant young American trumpeter Wynton Marsalis plays with his septet, a line-up of internationally acclaimed jazz musicians, for this late-night Prom live from the Royal Albert Hall, London. Marsalis says, "The Proms are renowned for an audience of all ages - and that's for me. I don't believe in this endless celebration of youth. I love young people - but I love old people, too. And middle-aged people! It's the flow of life that's important. Jazz is what I was put on this earth to play and my music is for everybody." Born in 1961, Marsalis entered the Juilliard School at the age of 18 and was soon playing on Broadway and with the Brooklyn Philharmonic. He describes himself as a jazz musician who can play classical music, and in 1984 he simultaneously carried off recording awards for best jazz soloist and best classical soloist with orchestra.