Irvin Mayfield & Ellis Marsalis

Biography

Irvin Mayfield Jr., born December 23, 1977, in New Orleans, Louisiana, emerged as a prominent jazz trumpeter, composer, bandleader, and educator deeply rooted in the city's musical heritage. Turning down a scholarship to Juilliard, he studied at the University of New Orleans Jazz Studies program under the mentorship of pianist Ellis Marsalis, though he later dropped out after the first semester. Influenced by trumpet legends like Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, Clifford Brown, and Dizzy Gillespie, Mayfield's style blends traditional New Orleans jazz with Afro-Cuban elements, bebop, and modern improvisation, viewing jazz as a manifestation of American democracy and the soul of his hometown.[1][3][4][7]

In 1998, Mayfield co-founded the Afro-Cuban jazz band Los Hombres Calientes with drummer Jason Marsalis and percussionist Bill Summers, signing with Basin Street Records and releasing multiple albums that appealed to diverse audiences through danceable rhythms fused with jazz and R&B. He founded the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra (NOJO) in 2002 as a nonprofit to promote local jazz, serving as artistic director until 2016, and composed works like the Elysian Fields Jazz Suite exploring themes of liberty, family, and rebirth. Notable releases include the 2008 album Love Songs, Ballads and Standards with Ellis Marsalis and his sextet, and 2011's A Love Letter to New Orleans, chronicling his bond with the city's jazz legacy. Mayfield has performed at venues like Carnegie Hall and festivals worldwide.[1][3][4]

Recognized as one of the most recorded and decorated jazz musicians of his generation, Mayfield has been a cultural ambassador for New Orleans, founding the Institute of Jazz Culture at Dillard University and engaging in civic life inspired by his mentors. His work with Ellis Marsalis highlights a collaborative effort to preserve and evolve the New Orleans jazz tradition.[1][3]

Fun Facts

• Turned down a scholarship to the Juilliard School of Music to study under Ellis Marsalis at the University of New Orleans.[1]
• Lived with Wynton Marsalis in New York during the late 1990s, observing his rise as a cultural entrepreneur.[3]
• Composed the Elysian Fields Jazz Suite, inspired by the New Orleans avenue connecting the Mississippi River to Lake Pontchartrain and its mythological ties to liberty.[1]
• Co-founded Los Hombres Calientes, a band that blended Afro-Cuban jazz with R&B to attract both jazz fans and younger dance audiences.[3][4]

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Ellis Marsalis - Mentor and teacher at University of New Orleans Jazz Studies program (Love Songs, Ballads and Standards (2008)) [1990s]
• Wynton Marsalis - Mentor, friend, and inspiration for cultural entrepreneurship; lived with him in New York (General influence on founding NOJO and civic involvement) [late 1990s]

Key Collaborators

• Jason Marsalis - Co-founder and drummer in Afro-Cuban jazz band (Los Hombres Calientes albums (first two and more)) [1998 onward]
• Bill Summers - Co-founder and percussionist in Afro-Cuban jazz band (Los Hombres Calientes albums) [1998 onward]
• Ellis Marsalis - Frequent collaborator on recordings and performances (Love Songs, Ballads and Standards (2008)) [2000s]

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia