Jeremy Pelt and Endea Owens

ABOUT THE CONCERT

Join trumpeter Jeremy Pelt and bassist Endea Owens for a powerful evening of newly commissioned works featuring vocalists, dancers, and full ensembles, set in the breathtaking, sky-high Appel Room. Inspired by the music and spirit of Africa, these world premieres—commissioned by Jazz at Lincoln Center—offer bold, contemporary perspectives on Africa’s enduring influence on jazz, brought to life through voice, rhythm, and movement, with a special guest appearance by the dance company Sekou McMiller + Friends

Pelt, celebrated for his virtuosic trumpet playing and collaborations with legends like Roy Hargrove and Cassandra Wilson, draws on his extensive experience as a bandleader and composer to create music that is both thoughtful and bold. This richly textural, Afro-futuristic work is centered on the stories and mysticism of masks, examining the folklore surrounding them and the spiritual power they hold. Featuring vocalist Candice Hoyes, the piece takes on an operatic dimension, with the human voice heightening its drama, ritual, and emotional scope.

Owens, a member of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert band and a Juilliard graduate who has worked with Wynton Marsalis, Jon Batiste, and Diana Ross, infuses her music with passion and purpose shaped by her Detroit roots and deep commitment to community. Her work incorporates vocalists as well as dance company Sekou McMiller + Friends, adding a powerful physical and visual layer that brings the music’s themes of ancestry, grounding, and resilience vividly to life.

Made possible by the John and Jody Arnhold Innovation Fund.

Jeremy Pelt's Masks

Jeremy Pelt- trumpet/leader
Candice Hoyes- vocals
Jalen Baker- vibraphone & marimba
Misha Mendelenko- guitar
Lasse Corson- keyboards/piano
Leighton Harrell- bass
Jared Spears- drums
Marie-Ann Hedonia- synthesizer
Charlie Pelt – flute