Jason Marsalis was born on March 4, 1977 in New Orleans, LA. His parents were Ellis and Dolores Marsalis and his older brothers are Branford, Wynton, Ellis III, Delfeayo, and Mboya. At age 5, he started on the violin with the Suzuki teaching method while at age 6 he started playing the drums. When he was 12, Jason decided to quit playing violin and focus more on percussion. In a few short years, he would appear on “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” while making his recording debut on Delfeayo’s album “Pontius Pilate’s Decision”. This occurred while attending the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA), an arts high school in New Orleans, LA. As a senior in high school, he would join pianist Marcus Roberts’ trio and the day after high school graduation, would record the album “Portraits in Blue featuring George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” for jazz band and orchestra. Marsalis would go on and record several albums with Roberts including collaboration with conductor Seiji Ozawa and the Berlin Philharmonic. In 1998, Marsalis would record his debut album as a leader, “Year of the Drummer” while co-leading a popular band in New Orleans, “Los Hombres Calientes”. He would go on to record or perform with a who’s who of musicians such as Joe Henderson, Lionel Hampton, Curtis Fuller, John Ellis, John Scofield, Bruce Hornsby, and Snarky Puppy to name a few. A few years later Marsalis turned his attention to the vibraphone and would record “In a World of Mallets”, his first full album on the vibraphone. Meanwhile, Marsalis started teaching music at the adjunct University of New Orleans, the New School, and teaching combos at NOCCA. He’s also taught yearly workshops at Florida State University with Marcus Roberts and the Swing Central program at the Savannah Music Festival. Since then, he has taught at Montclair State University and University of Central Florida.

Melodie Fort is quickly establishing herself as a multi-dimensional artist gifted in singing and acting. Passionate for performing since her teens, Melodie sought out opportunities to develop her gifts, attending Tri-Cities School of Performing Arts in Atlanta, GA. There, she auditioned for the choral program led by Lori Anne Christian and Sandra Renee Clark. Melodie was the only freshman to be placed in Mastery choir, where her teachers were adamant about stretching her to develop her natural skills and move beyond perceived limitations.

Within the Mastery choir program, Melodie learned to sight read at an advanced level, vocalize with appropriate technique, and sing as part of an ensemble. She also gained experience singing multiple genres, including jazz, gospel and classical, and was lead vocalist for songs such as "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," "Total Praise," and "God Blocked It." Her experience with Mastery choir led to being selected as the sole female vocalist in the Tri-Cities Jazz Band under the direction of Aaron Johnson.

Career Highlights:

Saxophonist and recording artist

National and international tours with a variety of groups

Clinician for International Youth Activities Program

We are excited to announce that Olea Olive Oils & Wine will be partnering with us during our upcoming happy hour! Join us for an evening of great drinks, lively conversation, and a fantastic atmosphere as we team up to bring you an unforgettable experience.

After the event, we’re keeping the fun going with an exclusive after-party hosted at Elevation Cigar House. Join us for even more great conversation and a lively atmosphere. It’s the perfect way to continue the celebration and make lasting connections. Don’t miss out—meet us at Elevation Cigar House and let's keep the good times rolling!

Address: 254 N 5th Ave, Rome, GA 30165