Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis

Duke in Africa

Jazz is a living conversation between past and present, with each generation of bandleaders reimagining timeless standards while introducing bold new works. Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis invites new fans and returning devotees to this century-long dialogue, capturing the spirit of the Big Band era while proving that this music remains as vibrant and powerful as ever.

This season's program features music by Duke Ellington, inspired by his orchestra's 1966 trip to Dakar, Senegal for the first World Festival of Negro Arts. This trip led Ellington to compose several of his most iconic works including Afro-Bossa, Liberian Suite, and the Grammy Award-winning Togo Brava Suite.

Co-music-directed by JLCO saxophonists Chris Lewis and Alexa Tarantino, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis celebrates these compositions and the spirit of Duke's historic trip, nearly 60 years later. 

Expect a performance that’s both tight and electrifying, where masterful ensemble playing meets breathtaking solo fireworks. With Wynton Marsalis at the helm, this is jazz at its finest—polished, passionate, and endlessly exhilarating.  

And, if the past couple of years are any indication, you can count on a sellout crowd!