21 - Interview with Rodney Marsalis: Discussing Francis Johnson, Keyed Bugle Virtuoso

The Early American Brass Band Podcast

Welcome back for Season 2 of the Early American Brass Band Podcast! Episode 21 is our conversation with Rodney Marsalis - trumpet soloist and leader of the Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass. We talk about his musical background, how he got interested in researching Francis Johnson, Johnson's life and musical career, and the RMPBB's "Francis Johnson Project" concerts.

More on Rodney here: https://www.rmpbb.com/artist.php?view=prog&rid=3365

You can now support the show on Patreon! For more details and to sign up, please visit www.patreon.com/eabbpodcast. No obligation, but we greatly appreciate any support you're willing to give.

For show notes and resources, visit our website at www.eabbpodcast.com. You can get in touch with us on social media, and by emailing [email protected]

Music in this episode comes from Our Musical Past from the Library of Congress.

Episode Structure:

• 2:34 - Patreon announcement!

• 3:45 - Interview with Rodney Marsalis - musical background

• 7:44 - How Rodney learned of Francis Johnson

• 11:04 - Francis Johnson's life and musical career

• 13:23 - The music scene in Philadelphia during Francis Johnson's time

• 16:35 - Francis Johnson's travels and musical ensembles

• 22:12 - Francis Johnson's contributions to the development of American music

• 26:23 - Publication of Francis Johnson's music

• 29:15 - Other tours within the United States, audience reception

• 35:18 - Sidebar about teaching early American music in schools

• 40:28 - The Francis Johnson Project

• 51:06 - Thoughts on performing on period instruments

• 55:03 - Where you can find out more about Francis Johnson and Rodney Marsalis

• 1:01:41 - Wrap-up, Feature Album: Chestnut Brass, The Music of Francis Johnson