Jazz at Lincoln Center, now in its 32nd concert season, is offering in honor of National Arts in Education Week (September 8-14) an extensive range of free (and almost free) concerts and educational events for all ages, including Hot Seat tickets, pre-concert discussions, family concerts and Late Night Sessions at Dizzy’s Club.
All events, unless stated otherwise, take place at Jazz at Lincoln Center, located on Broadway and 60th Street, New York, NY. For a complete schedule of Jazz at Lincoln Center programs, go to jazz.org.
Upcoming Hot Seat Shows:
THE SOUTH AFRICAN SONGBOOK
September 12-14 | 8:00 p.m. | Rose Theater
The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis kicks off Opening Weekend in Rose Theater with a musical celebration of South African democracy, 25 years after Apartheid’s end. South Africa has long been a vibrant and unique jazz hub, and most of the featured guests helped shape the sound of jazz as a new South Africa was being born. Special guests include three New York-based South African vocalists—Nonhlanhla Kheswa, Melanie Scholtz, and Jazz at Lincoln Center fan-favorite Vuyo Sotashe—plus five top instrumentalists from South Africa: trumpeter Feya Faku, saxophonist McCoy Mrubata, pianist Nduduzo Makhathini, vocalist and pianist Thandi Ntuli, and indigenous African classical multi-instrumentalist Tlokwe Sehume on vocals, guitar, ram’s horn, and percussion. Free pre-concert discussion is nightly at 7:00 p.m.
CÉCILE MCLORIN SALVANT
THE OGRESSE
September 27–28 | 8:00 p.m. | Rose Theater
The Ogresse is a new musical journey created by vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant, described as a dark and romantic “fairytale-like” story. Musical support comes from L’Orchestre L’Ogresse–a 13-piece chamber ensemble comprised of top-tier jazz musicians and the MIVOS string quartet–led by composer and bandleader Darcy James Argue. Audience members receive a copy of Salvant’s full handwritten libretto, including lyrics to The Ogresse, illustrations, and a few unusual cooking recipes preferred by the titular ogress.
JOE LOVANO UNIVERSAL JAZZ ENSEMBLE
October 18–19 | 7:00 p.m. & 9:30 p.m. | The Appel Room
On top of being one of the world’s best saxophonists, tenor titan Joe Lovano is also one of the most restlessly creative leaders in music. His all-star septet features six artists from across the entire spectrum of jazz, each of them also a renowned composer, bandleader, and instrumentalist: pianist Kenny Werner, bassist John Patitucci, drummers Andrew Cyrille and Tyshawn Sorey, guitarist Liberty Ellman, and trumpeter Graham Haynes. Plus —vocalist Judi Silvano was just announced a special addition This Appel Room performance marks the debut of the Joe Lovano Universal Jazz Ensemble. Free per-concert discussion, nightly, at 6:00 p.m. & 8:30 p.m.
A SWINGIN’ SESAME STREET CELEBRATION: 50 YEARS AND COUNTING
October 25 | 7:00 p.m. | Rose Theater
October 26 | 2:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m. | Rose Theater
Sesame Street comes to Jazz at Lincoln Center for a swinging celebration of Sesame’s 50th anniversary. See beloved feathered and furry friends Elmo, Bert & Ernie, Big Bird, Rosita, Hoots the Owl, and more sing classic Sesame Street songs alongside the world-renowned Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis. It’s hard to imagine Sesame Street without its music. Many of the jazz greats have visited Sesame Street over the past 50 years, introducing countless children to Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Hancock, Mary Lou Williams, and many more. Jazz at Lincoln Center’s own Wynton Marsalis even visited Sesame Street a few times, playing “Take the A Train” with the Duck Ellington Orchestra and joining Hoots the Owl on “No Matter What Your Language (Our Music Can Be The Same).” Likewise, the JLCO has reimagined Sesame Street favorites as big band bonanzas, and this show features brand-new arrangements of Sesame Street gems.
ECM RECORDS AT 50
WITH JACK DEJOHNETTE, VIJAY IYER, AND MANY MORE
November 1–2 | 8:00 p.m. | Rose Theater
Jazz at Lincoln Center celebrates 50 years of ECM Records, rightfully called “one of the defining sound-worlds of the past half-century of recorded music” by the New Yorker. The show features an outstanding lineup of performers including Jack DeJohnette, Egberto Gismonti, Enrico Rava, Joe Lovano, Craig Taborn, Vijay Iyer, Avishai Cohen, Meredith Monk, Bill Frisell, Larry Grenadier, Ravi Coltrane, Anja Lechner, Ethan Iverson, and Nik Bartsch. An independent label founded by visionary producer Manfred Eicher, this 50-year anniversary celebration is a proper salute to a record label that, with an unwavering commitment to quality, has contributed so uniquely and extensively to contemporary music.
CHUCHO VALDÉS
WITH SPECIAL GUEST CHICK COREA
November 15–16 | 8:00 p.m. | Rose Theater
Pianists Chucho Valdés and Chick Corea are two of the all-time greats, living legends as musically prolific now as ever. They have won more than 30 Grammy and Latin Grammy Awards combined, while redefining modern music in the process. The first half of this concert is a master class in solo piano performance, with Valdés selecting and improvising pieces across a broad spectrum of Cuban, Afro-Latin, and jazz styles. Pianist Chick Corea then joins him in the second half for the pair’s first-ever performance together. These singular giants of jazz have spent their lives breaking new ground across musical traditions, and their debut collaboration will be as immensely entertaining as it is historic. Free pre-concert discussion, nightly, at 7:00 p.m.
THE ABYSSINIAN MASS BY WYNTON MARSALIS
Presented in collaboration with Lincoln Center’s White Light Festival
November 21–23 | 8:00 p.m. | Rose Theater
Featuring the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis with 70-piece gospel choir Chorale le Chateau, under the direction of Damien L. Sneed, Marsalis’ The Abyssinian Mass is a joyful celebration of togetherness and the human spirit. Commissioned in 2008 to honor the bicentennial of Harlem’s famed Abyssinian Baptist Church, The Abyssinian Mass has since become a best-selling record and been performed in packed concert halls and churches around the country. The unique masterpiece now returns exclusively to its hometown for three nights in the House of Swing. Free pre-concert discussion, nightly, at 7:00 p.m.
BIG BAND HOLIDAYS
December 18 | 7:00 p.m. | Rose Theater
December 19–21 | 8:00 p.m. | Rose Theater
December 22 | 2:00 p.m. | Rose Theater
The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis and music director Marcus Printup continue a beloved New York tradition with Big Band Holidays. Featuring soulful big band versions of classics like “Jingle Bells,” “Joy to the World,” and “Brazilian Sleigh Ride,” Big Band Holidays is an uplifting holiday program that plays to sold-out audiences every December. Big Band Holidays is renowned for showcasing some of the most exciting and charismatic vocalists on the scene, with recent editions including Cécile McLorin Salvant, Gregory Porter, René Marie, Vuyo Sotashe, Veronica Swift, and Catherine Russell. This year the smooth-as-silk baritone vocalist Denzal Sinclaire and supremely talented teenage phenomenon Alexis Morrast, winner of the nationally broadcast Showtime at the Apollo, join the JLCO as guest vocalists.
FAMILY CONCERTS
The Jazz for Young People program consists of narrated hour-long concerts in Rose Theater about the life and music of jazz legends. Tickets start at $10.
Upcoming Family Concerts:
FAMILY CONCERT: WHO IS CHICK COREA?
October 5 | 1:00 p.m. & 3:00 p.m. | Rose Theater
Pianist, composer, and living legend Chick Corea has found endless delight in uncovering new musical wonders. Through acoustic and electric jazz, inspired duets, and all sorts of bold “fusions,” this musical explorer has remained one of the most popular figures in music, earning 24 Grammy Awards (and counting) while maintaining the deepest respect of his peers. This hour-long educational program featuring young pianists Sean Mason, Micah Thomas, and Tyler Henderson includes live performances of Chick’s game-changing music and tell the inspiring story of a lifelong dreamer with a legacy built alongside Miles Davis, Return to Forever, Herbie Hancock, Béla Fleck, and even the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis.
LATE NIGHT SESSION AT DIZZY’S CLUB
Doors open at 11:15 p.m. every Tuesday through Saturday for Late Night Sessions featuring some of the most talented up-and-coming jazz artists, with jam sessions on Thursdays and Saturdays. Cover is $5 Tuesday-Wednesday, $10 Thursday-Friday, and $20 on Saturday. Student Cover is $5 Tuesday-Friday, and $10 on Saturday. Every Tuesday and Wednesday, Late Night Session is free for anyone who attended the Dizzy’s Club 9:30pm set. For the full lineup, visit jazz.org/dizzys.
Upcoming Late Night Sessions:
Tuesday-Saturday, September 17-21
LATE NIGHT SESSION: Julian Lee
Tuesday-Saturday, September 24-28
LATE NIGHT SESSION: Abdias Armenteros
Tuesday-Saturday, October 1-5
LATE NIGHT SESSION: Keith Brown
Tuesday-Saturday, October 15-19
LATE NIGHT SESSION: Charles Turner & Uptown Swing (10/15-10/18)
LATE NIGHT DANCE SESSION: Charles Turner & Uptown Swing (10/19)
HOT SEATS
Hot Seats, $10 tickets for select Rose Theater and The Appel Room performances, are released for sale on the Wednesday prior to the performance. All Hot Seats are available for purchase in person only at the Jazz at Lincoln Center Box Office. Maximum of two tickets per person; subject to availability. For the dates of qualifying Hot Seat performances, please call 212-258-9800.
STUDENT DISCOUNTS
Dizzy’s Club offers special pricing for students year-round. Cover charge for students range from $5 to $20 with a valid student ID. For more exclusive student discounts, visit jazz.org/students.
Box Office atBroadway at 60th Street, Ground floor is open Mon–Fri: 10am–6pm and Sun: 12pm–6pm
For CenterCharge please call 212-721-6500
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