E Day Series: Pianist Kyle Roussel (1)

 In honor of the passing of our beloved musician, composer, educator, mentor and 30-year Snug Harbor artist in residence Ellis Marsalis Jr. on April 1st 2020, Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro is hosting weekly livestreams from its social media channels on Fridays at 8:00pm Central Time ~ the time that Ellis and his band started his longtime weekly concert series at Snug for decades. 

Started one week after his passing in response to the community not being able to gather in person for proper memorials due to the Covid-19 pandemic, these livestreams feature different New Orleans musicians each week paying their personal tributes to the man they knew via music composed, inspired, or influenced by the late Ellis Marsalis Jr, interspersed with stories surrounding each tune and/or memories of times with him. 

The series is dubbed "E-Day Live" as "E" is how musicians closest to the pianist referred to him fondly, and is how it is said he would sign letters and emails to dear ones. And of course, "Live" because this is the Livestream version of what eventually be a proper memorial tribute concert series for Marsalis. Online donations during each broadcast directly support the participating musicians in this time of need. These Friday night livestreams will continue weekly until Snug Harbor is able to safely open its doors for world class live concerts once again. 

This Friday will be pianist Kyle Roussel! Kyle Roussel is a dynamic example of a modern New Orleans musician forging his own path while collaborating with a variety of musical masters. A graduate of the famed New Orleans Center for Creative Arts and the University of New Orleans began playing the piano at age nine; studying classical music before moving on to perform in church and explore jazz in his teenage years.  These days, Kyle is equally adept in the worlds of jazz, classical, funk, gospel, rhythm and blues, and rock- his diverse influences shaping his personal musical identity and providing inspiration at every turn.  Kyle currently performs all around the US, with other engagements taking him all over Europe, Asia, South America, Australia, and Africa with stalwarts such as The Headhunters, The Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Irma Thomas,  The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Christian Scott, Donald Harrison Jr., Delfeayo Marsalis, John Boutte, Kermit Ruffins, Herlin Riley, Shannon Powell, James Rivers, Roland Guerin, Bonerama, Glen David Andrews, Mia Borders, Khris Royal, and Topsy Chapman.  One thing is clear to anyone who is paying attention: Kyle Roussel has only just begun to leave his mark on the world of music.

Follow Snug Harbor online to join: 

Facebook = @SnugHarborJazzBistro 

Instagram = @SnugJazz_NOLA 

Hashtags: 

#EDayLive 

#EllisMarsalis 

@elmrecordsbyelm