HBO to Debut WYNTON MARSALIS: A YOUNG ARTS MASTER CLASS Today

The HBO Family documentary Wynton Marsalis: A YoungArts Masterclass kicks off the third season of the two-time Emmy-nominated series, following three promising musicians as they work with the jazz icon. Selected by the National YoungArts Foundation - which offers talented high-school students from around the country the chance to be mentored by some of the world's greatest artists - the young virtuosos prepare to perform alongside Marsalis during a performance at Jazz at Lincoln Center, in the series' season debut, airing tonight MONDAY, SEPT. 9 (7:30-8:00 p.m. ET/PT), on HBO.

Other HBO playdates: Sept. 11 (2:00 p.m.), 14 (11:00 a.m.), 17 (6:15 a.m.), 20 (10:30 a.m.) and 29 (8:30 a.m.). HBO Family playdates: Sept. 15 (10:45 p.m.), 18 (11:30 p.m.), 23 (8:30 p.m.), 24 (3:55 a.m.) and 27 (6:30 p.m.), and Oct. 6 (5:25 a.m.), 19 (6:25 p.m.) and 20 (5:20 a.m.)

In the all-new YOUNGARTS MASTERCLASS episode the aspiring musicians - saxophonist Patrick Bartley, pianist Tony Madruga, and bass player Russell Hall - meet at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York to practice under the tutelage of jazz master Wynton Marsalis. The mentees pay close attention as he provides invaluable critique on musicianship and offers insights into the realm of improvisation. "Jazz is the only music in the world where four people sit up on a bandstand and they have to give shape and logic and form to music as they're making it," Marsalis explains. "What musicians do and artists do is they give form to chaos."

Though best known for his virtuosity on the trumpet, Marsalis effortlessly gives feedback on the students' own instruments - even taking to the piano without missing a beat. Over dinner, he recounts his own career path and advises them on life in the professional jazz world. Encouraging the threesome to become one another's support system, he tells them that if they really want to be professionals, they should have many kinds of experiences to learn from, saying, "Play with different people. Play all kinds of gigs... Broadway shows, the circus, cocktail parties!"

Before their performance at Jazz at Lincoln Center, Marsalis gives each student a word to consider while playing in order to help perfect their craft. Patrick's is "relaxation," to harness his excited energy, Russell's is "concentration," to listen carefully to the instruments around him, and Tony's is "freedom," to venture outside his comfort zone.

Reflecting on the importance of passing the torch, Marsalis remarks "I want them to take away from it that 'you're a part of this,' and we need you to come out here and be a part of it and make it be glorious, make it be great...and they're going to do that. Watch..."

In 2011, YOUNGARTS MASTERCLASS received an Emmy nomination in the category of Outstanding Children's Nonfiction, Reality or Reality-Competition Program. The series recently received another Emmy nomination, in the category of Outstanding Children's Program.

Wynton Marsalis: A YoungArts Masterclass is a production of Simon & Goodman Picture Company; produced and directed by Oscar and Emmy winners Karen Goodman and Kirk Simon.

For more on the show, visit facebook.com/HBODocs and twitter.com @HBODocs #MasterClass.

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