Ellis Marsalis

The head of the Marsalis family dynasty—which includes trumpeter Wynton and saxophonist Brandford—reflects on his hometown’s tradition of breeding great artists. “New Orleans is such a musical city. If you are predisposed to becoming a performer, and born in New Orleans, there’s music all around you,” he tells Jazzin Em Up host Cres O’Neal. “So it's a matter of developing a level of discipline that it takes for you to evolve into a quality player.”