RIP: Ellis Marsalis, New Orleans jazz piano legend hospitalized with coronavirus symptoms, dies at 85. “In his days on the staff of the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts, Xavier University and the University of New Orleans, Marsalis taught and tutored several future stars, including Terence Blanchard, Harry Connick Jr., Irvin Mayfield, Jesse Davis, Charlie Dennard, Victor Goines, Donald Harrison, Marlon Jordan and Paul Longstreth, as well as his renowned musical sons, Branford, Wynton, Delfeayo and Jason. Marsalis retired from UNO in 2001.”