溫頓·馬薩利斯，被譽為當今最頂尖的小號大師。1961年誕生於爵士樂的發源地美國新奧爾良一個爵士樂傢庭，溫頓的父親和兩個哥哥同樣都是爵士爵樂傢。溫頓九次榮獲格萊美音樂大奬，也是唯一一位同時贏得占典音樂與爵士音樂唱片大奬的器樂演奏傢。1997年，溫頓憑藉自己創作的宗教史詩音樂劇《田野上的鮮血》，成為首次獲得普利策音樂大奬的爵士音樂傢。

塞爾溫·瑟福·辛德斯，備受贊譽的記者，知名作傢。《源泉》雜誌前主編，《薩伏依》雜誌執行編輯，作品和評論文章見於各種報刊，包括《名利場》、《鄉村之聲》、Spin、Vibe等。2002年，辛德斯撰寫瞭贏得廣泛好評的迴憶錄《杜撰的槍聲》。

In To a Young Jazz Musician, the renowned jazz musician and Pulitzer Prize—winning composer Wynton Marsalis gives us an invaluable guide to making good music–and to leading a good life.

Writing from the road “between the bus ride, the sound check, and the gig,”

Marsalis passes on wisdom gained from experience, addressed to a young musician coming up–and to any of us at any stage of life. He writes that having humility is a way to continue to grow, to listen, and to learn; that patience is necessary for developing both technical proficiency and your own art rather than an imitation of someone else’s; and that rules are indispensable because “freedom lives in structure.”

He offers lessons learned from his years as a performer and from his great forebears Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, and others; he explores the art of swing; he discusses why it is important to run toward your issues, not away; and he talks about what to do when your integrity runs up against the lack thereof in others and in our culture. He poetically expresses our need for healers: “All of it tracks back to how you heal your culture, one patient at a time, beginning with yourself.”

This is a unique book, in which a great artist offers his personal thoughts, both on jazz and on how to live a better, more original, productive, and meaningful life. To a Young Jazz Musician is sure to be treasured by readers young and old, musicians, lovers of music, and anyone interested in being mentored by one of America’s most influential, generous, and talented artists.

From the Hardcover edition.