Folk, Blues, and Spirituals The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis
About This Event
The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, led by Wynton Marsalis, presents a program of folk, blues and spirituals at Jazz at Lincoln Center. The ensemble's big‑band arrangements and Marsalis's leadership foreground jazz's connections to vernacular traditions, situating the repertoire within the group's ongoing work of linking historical material to contemporary performance.
About Folk, Blues, and Spirituals
At Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, led by Wynton Marsalis, turns to folk, blues, and spirituals as source material rather than nostalgia. The program traces how vernacular songs, church music, and work melodies feed big-band language, translating call-and-response and blues inflection into arranged ensemble form. In New York, where jazz has long been both an archive and a living practice, this repertoire reads as cultural history in motion. One clear point emerges: the tradition survives because it keeps being rewritten.
About the Artists
Wynton Marsalis
Wynton Marsalis stands as a towering figure in the world of jazz, captivating audiences with his exceptional artistry and dynamic performances. As a key performer at New York City's iconic Jazz at Lincoln Center, Marsalis infuses his music with both tradition and innovation, creating a vibrant tapestry of sound that resonates with audiences of all ages.
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra
The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, a vibrant ensemble under the artistic leadership of Wynton Marsalis, stands as a cornerstone of New York City's jazz scene. Known for their dynamic performances at iconic venues like Jazz at Lincoln Center and 92NY, this group brings the rich tradition of big band jazz to life with a modern twist.