MSU jazz prof Rodney Whitaker remembers trumpeter Marcus Belgrave

Detroit jazz trumpeter Marcus Belgrave died just over a week ago. Early in his career he backed many Motown musicians, and was in Ray Charles’ band. He later worked with many jazz greats including Max Roach and Charles Mingus. He also was a mentor to many of today’s best jazz musicians, including bassist Rodney Whitaker, who is the director of Jazz Studies at Michigan State University.Current State’s Melissa Benmark speaks with Whitaker about what Belgrave was like as a teacher and a performer.