[5][1] He introduced percussionist Bill Summers to trumpeter Irvin Mayfield, and they founded Los Hombres Calientes.

[7] In a program of Duke Ellington songs at Carnegie Hall with Marcus Roberts, bassist Rodney Jordan, vocalist Catherine Russell, and the American Symphony Orchestra, critic Seth Colter Walls writes "The drumming by Marsalis was likewise individual in character, particularly during "Three Black Kings."

"On this impressive debut, his quintet puts together a highly coordinated spin on blues motifs and Caribbean figures.

"[9] Los Angeles Times’ writer Don Heckman reviewed Marsalis’s second record, the 2000 release, Music in Motion, and described it as "impressive," "the opportunity to display his technique in everything from brushwork and hard-driving jazz to offbeat meters and Brazilian rhythms...with ease," and "purposeful, intelligent drumming.

Writing in The New York Times, critic Ben Ratliff said that Marsalis was "an excellent musician trying out something risky without embarrassment.

"[13] In the liner notes Marsalis writes "a debt of gratitude is owed to the original members of the percussion ensemble M'Boom".

Herlin Riley commented about the performance in International Musician, "Ellis Marsalis passed away on April 1st [2020] from the coronavirus.

He played with his longtime friend (Germaine Bazzle), his youngest son, and in the venue that bears his name and was built in his honor.

All five Marsalis musicians were interviewed and told vignettes about Jazz Fest including Jason recalling meeting Miles Davis at eight years old.

[18] Marsalis and his brothers Branford, Wynton, Delfeayo, and their father Ellis were named NEA Jazz Masters in 2011.