This fall, Jazz at Lincoln Center (JLC) kicks off an exciting season of diverse programming. Under the theme “Mother Africa,” the organization seeks to“celebrate jazz and the African diaspora that brought it to life,” according to their website. Highlights include performances by South African pianist Abdullah Ibrahim October 3–4; Brazilian percussionist Cyro Baptista’s 75th birthday celebration November 7–8; and the premier of a new composition by artistic director and trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, who will lead the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (JLCO) in explorations of sound throughout the season.
Marsalis, who started JLC and has headed the organization since its inception, will open the season, September 18–20, with the debut of his latest composition, “Afro!,” an exploration into his “lifelong reflections on the African continent” that features Ghanaian djembe player Weedie Braimah. Marsalis and the JLCO will then take this show on the road, hosting performances in Africa in October. “The earliest and most fundamental human mythology is African,” Marsalis said in a press release from JLC. “From Venda to Igbo to a host of other belief systems across the continent, there are viable solutions to today’s challenges.”
Since 1987, JLC has helped keep the artform of jazz alive in the heart of the city where pioneers like Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, and Miles Davis propelled the genre to new heights through the development of be-bop and beyond. The organization hosts a slew of programs in their venue spaces, including the Rose Theater and Dizzy’s Club. They champion access by offering student discounts and low- or no-cost options for some shows. This includes hot seat tickets — $10 seats for select shows at the Rose Theater, typically released on the Wednesday before a performance. Students interested in discounts can sign up through the verification portal for more information. Info about all the exciting programs happening at Jazz at Lincoln Center can be found by visiting jazz.org.
Looking forward to Wynton’s show and the new composition Afro! Adding the djembe drum should be awesome!