Recently, New York City hosted the annual Essentially Ellington Competition and Festival, a celebration of the top high school jazz bands in the United States. The event is hosted by Jazz at Lincoln Center, a world-renown center for jazz music. Wynton Marsalis, the famous jazz musician and composer, is the Managing and Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center.
Now, you may be thinking that a high school music competition is not for you, but here’s where you are wrong. The Essentially Ellington Competition begins with a New Orleans-style Second Line Parade, led by Wynton Marsalis himself. If you are like me, you may not know what a Second Line Parade is. I did my research before I went, and here’s the description I found on a New Orleans tourism website:
Second line parades are the descendants of the [New Orleans’] famous jazz funerals and, apart from a casket, mourners and a cemetery visit, they carry many of the same traditions with them as they march down the streets. … They range in size, level of organization and traditions, but in all cases they will include a brass band, jubilant dancing in the street and members decked out in a wardrobe of brightly colored suits, sashes, hats and bonnets, parasols and banners, melding the pomp of a courtly function and the spontaneous energy of a block party, albeit one that moves a block at a time. The parades are not tied to any particular event, holiday or commemoration; rather, they are generally held for their own sake and to let the good times roll.
How fun to experience a New Orleans-style Second Line Parade in New York City! The parade began by the Christopher Columbus statue in Columbus Circle, located at the southwest corner of Central Park. It was only a short march to Jazz at Lincoln Center’s location, but it was a wonderful experience to listen and follow along. Bystanders traveled beside and behind the musicians, snapping photos along the way – I joined in the festivities. In addition to those playing musical instruments, there were students carrying posters promoting music education as well.
I invite you to follow along with the Second Line Parade through my photos below:
Can’t you just hear the jazz in the background?
Finding NYC 
This looks amazing, had no idea it was even going on. Great post!
There are so many unexpected things in New York City!
Yes!! Feel so lucky to live here ❤️
Me too!
We know about the Essentially Ellington competition here in the Seattle area because we’ve been sending jazz bands to it and winning awards. It’s a fantastic way to showcase young musical talent from out high schools. Thanks for the photos !
That’s great! I loved seeing the students participate in this – I could tell they really enjoyed it, and the parade was a great way of bringing attention to the importance of music education.
It looks a wonderful occasion. How could you not want jazz in schools? When it first came to England in 1915 or thereabouts, it was called “The Devil’s Music”. I do hope that’s not the reason!
Unfortunately, some American schools are cutting all music and art programs – they argue that it saves money, but fail to see the value of these types of programs to a child’s development.
I love that the parade is just for the sake of having fun and isn’t necessarily tied to an event. Looks like it was a great time.
You’ve caught the enthusiasm in the shots of individual players and bystanders. I hope that neck chain is lightweight metal!