Addy first saw Marsalis perform on television in 1981 playing with a symphony orchestra and was impressed with the younger musician's "spirit and his dedication". Addy told his wife at the time that someday he would work with Marsalis. The two musicians met in 1993 at the First inauguration of Bill Clinton, where they were to perform on the same stage and met in the dressing rooms. Addy told Marsalis that he liked him and said "with confidence" that someday they would work together. After that initial meeting, Marsalis attended performances of Odadaa! two years in a row at the World Music Institute in New York City. The two musicians did finally begin to work together in 2003, on a project titled "Africa Jazz", representing a collection of Addy's compositions and Marsalis' jazz pieces. The project was performed in 2003 by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and Odadaa! at Columbia University.