Portraits of Bards, Titans, and Legends The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis
About This Event
The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, formed in 1988 and led artistically by Wynton Marsalis since 1991, presents Portraits of Bards, Titans, and Legends at Jazz at Lincoln Center. The program reflects the ensemble’s documented focus on jazz history—notably its Ellington projects such as the 1992 Portraits by Ellington and 1999 Live in Swing City—with Marsalis directing and performing with the orchestra.
About Portraits of Bards, Titans, and Legends
Now at Jazz at Lincoln Center, *Portraits of Bards, Titans, and Legends* places the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra under the artistic direction of Wynton Marsalis, working in the big-band lineage the institution was built to preserve. The program frames jazz history as biography, using large-ensemble color to study influential figures and the ideas they carried. In New York, where repertory jazz has been actively canonized on major stages, the concert reads as both performance and archival practice. One clear throughline is Marsalis’s insistence that tradition is something you interrogate, not simply repeat.
About the Artists
Portraits of Bards, Titans, and Legends The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra
In 1988 the Orchestra was formed as an outgrowth of its concert series, Classical Jazz, with David Berger conducting. When Wynton Marsalis became artistic director in 1991, he emphasized the history of jazz, particularly Duke Ellington.
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.