DELFEAYO MARSALIS : Bravo for Jazz

Since its inception in 1980, the Bravo cable channel has been the tube’s most ardent jazz fan. In addition to presenting numerous concert films featuring the likes of the late Miles Davis, it has also presented theatrical features focusing on jazz figures, such as Bertrand Tavernier’s “ ‘Round Midnight” starring the late Dexter Gordon.

This year looks to be Bravo’s strongest jazz year yet. On Friday, Bravo kicks off its “Legends of Jazz” week with the American television premiere of Burrill Cohen’s “Reed Royalty.” Narrated by Branford Marsalis, the program focuses on the great reed players of jazz, from Artie Shaw and Benny Goodman to Charlie Parker and Ornette Coleman.

Bravo also has deepened its commitment to jazz with the addition of Branford’s brother, trombonist-producer Delfeayo (pronounced Delph --ee--oh) Marsalis, as its host for its regular Friday evening “Jazzfest” series. Following “Legends of Jazz” week, Delfeayo Marsalis will host programs on such jazz artists as African bandleader King Sunny Ade, saxophonist-songwriter Louis Jordan, singer-bandleader-composer Milton Nascimento, electric guitarist Stanley Jordan and vibraphonist-drummer-bandleader Lionel Hampton. Jazz writer Zan Stewart talked with Delfeayo Marsalis about Bravo’s increasing involvement with the world of jazz.

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What will be your role on “Jazzfest?”

I’m writing the openings and closings to those programs, and recording them. I’m trying to give my view of what these artists are doing, why they’re important.

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What does a show like “Jazzfest” do for you personally?

First, any association that I can have with jazz music, with any artists who are serious about the music, I want to be a part of that.

Second, jazz has always had a problem in this country getting the proper forums. You basically have to play dingy clubs, or maybe some concert halls. It hasn’t been as widely respected as European classical music.

In jazz, also, we have to set it up so that it’s not just the clubs or the concert halls. Like what (my brother) Wynton (Marsalis) has done at Lincoln Center, presenting children’s concerts, offering large-scale works, writing ballets. We have to open up all aspects of the music, and, to me, what Bravo is doing is like an opening to a room, and I hope the room can continue to expand.

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What’s the state of jazz on TV?

I don’t think that jazz receives proper treatment on any level of American society. We have to figure out how to market jazz in a way that not only will more people be exposed to it, more people will enjoy it. Exactly how we’ll do that, I don’t know. It will be trial and error, and I want to try some things.

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Are the people at Bravo receptive to your ideas?

They’ve been very positive. They feel I have something that needs to be said. I’m trying to use this start as a stepping stone to go into another direction.

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At present, you’re only hosting “Jazzfest.” If you had the opportunity to do other kinds of shows at Bravo, what would you do?

I would want to create some videos that incorporated dance--all types of dance. For example, to present music from the ‘30s, say by Duke Ellington, and show the types of dance from that period. Or utilize contemporary music and get some people to choreograph dances to it.

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What else besides jazz, in conjunction with dance, would you like to see on TV?

I think what we have to do is present jazz in many different contexts, with symphony orchestras, small ensembles, big bands. I still think that the element that will attract the most people is dance. Audiences can feel the groove. It’s something that they can relate to. That’s why instrumental pop music is so popular. Someone like (saxophonist) Kenny G is popular because people can feel the back beat.

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Are you going to be doing performances as promotions for your Bravo broadcasts?

Yes, I’m doing eight or nine concerts, in Denver, Chicago and other cities. And while I’m in these cities, I’ll be doing clinics at elementary schools. I love to do that.

“Legends of Jazz” programming airs various evenings on Bravo through April 2; “Jazzfest” will air Fridays at 7 p.m. and midnight, beginning April 16.