This special summer concert, music-directed by JLCO trombonist Vincent Gardner, features Africa-inspired compositions from John Coltrane, Randy Weston, René McLean, Horace Parlan, and more. With an opening performance from students participating in our Summer Jazz Academy, this multi-generational concert celebrates the music’s roots as well as some of its youngest stars.

This is a pay-what-you-choose performance and not part of subscriptions.

Afro! brings the sophisticated rhythms of Africa to the Rose Theater stage with the world premiere of a new commission by Wynton Marsalis. The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra is joined by Ghanaian djembe virtuoso Weedie Braimah and extraordinary vocalist Shenel Johns for an exploration of jazz’s deep roots in African music.

Just shy of his 91st birthday, South African legend and NEA Jazz Master Abdullah Ibrahim returns to Rose Theater for a career-spanning retrospective. Performing solo, in a trio, with his legendary Ekaya group, and alongside special guests Terence Blanchard, Kenny Garrett, and Cecil McBee, this concert puts Ibrahim's full talents on display.

Discover the life and music of Celia Cruz, the "Queen of Salsa," in this engaging family-friendly concert featuring vocalist Ariacne Trujillo Duran. Learn about the fundamentals of salsa and Cruz’s monumental influence on Latin music with your host, JLCO bassist Carlos Henriquez.

Experience the enduring legacy of Celia Cruz, the "Queen of Salsa," with an all-star band led by JLCO bassist Carlos Henriquez, who played alongside Cruz in his youth. This tribute concert features guest vocalists Aymée Nuviola, Alain Pérez, and Ariacne Trujillo Duran and honors one of the most influential voices in Latin music.

Take a musical journey through South African jazz with visionary pianist Nduduzo Makhathini. This dynamic concert finds the JLCO channeling the iconic sounds of multi-instrumentalist and composer Bheki Mseleku and features a new composition by Makhathini in a tribute to South Africa’s rich musical heritage.

Brazilian percussion master Cyro Baptista, described by Wynton Marsalis as “truly one of the greatest musicians in the world,” marks his 75th birthday with a high-energy, unforgettable celebration at Rose Theater featuring special guests from across his genre-bending, globe-trotting career.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame legend Steve Miller returns to Jazz at Lincoln Center to celebrate two late legends: saxophonist Eddie Harris and drummer Chico Hamilton. Miller’s signature blues-rock guitar style will be complemented by an all-star band as well as the Louisiana rhythms of Lil’ Nathan and the Zydeco Big Timers.

The Journey Through Jazz series, now in its fifth year, continues with The Mighty Negro Spirituals, a musical adventure guided by JLCO trumpeter Marcus Printup. Discover how the Negro spirituals of Afro American enslaved people became the bedrock of jazz and gospel music.

Part of the Lynne and Richard Pasculano Jazz Series, this is a pay-what-you-choose performance and not part of subscriptions.

Ring in the holiday season with this annual fan-favorite performance filled with festive cheer! Featuring music direction by JLCO trombonist Chris Crenshaw and sensational vocalists Shenel Johns and Kate Kortum, this holiday spectacular brings new life to classic tunes. Get ready for an evening of swing, joy, and the timeless magic of the season.

The third annual Unity Jazz Festival brings together an all-star lineup of acts performing throughout Frederick P. Rose Hall, the House of Swing. With living legends, rising stars, and avid fans mingling between the Appel Room, Dizzy’s Club, the Ertegun Atrium, and the VLS Acoustic Lounge late into the night, the festival delivers an electric atmosphere where music lovers unite to experience jazz in all its forms.

Unity Jazz Festival will be on sale to members beginning July 15, and the general public on July 22.

This memorable concert—staged 60 years after Duke Ellington’s historic performance in Senegal—explores the composer’s profound connection to Africa. Co-music-directed by saxophonists Chris Lewis and Alexa Tarantino, the JLCO brings new life to compositions drawn from Ellington’s Afro-Bossa, Liberian Suite, and the Grammy Award-winning Togo Brava Suite.

Duke Ellington’s sacred compositions, which he called "the most important thing I have ever done," will be brought to life by Grammy Award-winning pianist and music director Luther S. Allison. Vocalists C. Anthony Bryant and Kate Kortum and a first-call big band will help explore the spiritual depths of Ellington’s music.

Five-time Grammy Award winner and NEA Jazz Master vocalist Dianne Reeves returns to Rose Theater for a memorable Valentine’s Day. Whether you’re a longtime fan or a newcomer, don’t miss this beloved tradition performed by one of the most extraordinary vocalists in jazz today.

Join trumpeter Jeremy Pelt and bassist Endea Owens for an evening of innovative jazz inspired by Africa. Both musicians, also known for their compositional brilliance, will present their latest works—Masks and Whispers of the Celestial Root: Songs of the Black Earth, respectively—offering fresh perspectives on Africa’s influence on jazz against the shimmering Manhattan skyline.

Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra bassist Carlos Henriquez and percussionist Obed Calvaire pay tribute to their respective Puerto Rican and Haitian roots with new compositions, shining a spotlight on the vibrant sounds of the Afro-Caribbean diaspora alongside special guests.

The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra pays tribute to the incomparable Louis Armstrong, one of jazz’s foundational figures, in this lively family concert. Introduce your youngest listeners to “Pops” and his groundbreaking contributions to jazz with a performance that will forever change the way they think about music.

Backed by a full big band, drummer Ulysses Owens, Jr. and British-Nigerian bassist Michael Olatuja present a unique blend of jazz and Afrobeat rhythms in the Appel Room. With their innovative approach and high-octane energy, they’ll take you on a thrilling musical journey through Afrobeat’s infectious grooves, all set against the stunning backdrop of nighttime Manhattan.

Two stirring new commissions get their debut: Grammy Award-winning Panamanian pianist Danilo Pérez’s The Panáfrica Suite: Echoes from the Isthmus and saxophonist Godwin Louis’ African Roots, Diasporic Routes: Benin, Kongo, and the Music of the Americas. Joined by renowned singer Catherine Russell and percussionist Weedie Braimah, Pérez, Louis, and the JLCO treat audiences to a transatlantic voyage across the history of our music.

Guitar icon Bill Frisell takes over the Appel Room for a star-studded weekend that looks to the future while renewing the past. On Friday, he continues his "In My Dreams" project with longtime collaborators Jenny Scheinman, Hank Roberts, Eyvind Kang, Thomas Morgan, and Rudy Royston. On Saturday, he'll duet with vocalist Petra Haden and alto saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins.

Overtures to Africa explores Africa’s influence on some of jazz’s greatest legends: Charles Mingus, Thelonious Monk, Dizzy Gillespie, and Max Roach. Part of the Journey Through Jazz concert series, this performance brings the JLCO and music director, drummer Domo Branch, to the intimate Appel Room, delving into the profound impact of African culture on jazz.

Part of the Lynne and Richard Pasculano Jazz Series, this is a pay-what-you-choose performance and not part of subscriptions.

Embark on a captivating journey through the evolution of blues, starting with W.C. Handy, the "Father of the Blues." Led by JLCO saxophonist Sherman Irby and featuring special guests, this concert traces the blues up the Mississippi River, showcasing its deep roots in American culture and its evolution into a musical genre that revolutionized the world.

Piano titan Oscar Peterson looms large as one of the 20th century’s great improvisers. Join us for a star-studded night in honor of one of the piano’s greatest practitioners.

Concert is available as part of the Create Your Own series.

The JLCO and special guests commemorate the centennial of one of jazz’s most influential figures, Miles Davis. Featuring the orchestrations of one of Davis’ greatest collaborators, the endlessly inventive Gil Evans, these performances demonstrate why the innovative trumpeter’s big band work was every bit as important as his small group output.

Grammy Award-nominated and NAACP Image Award-winning vocalist Jazzmeia Horn returns to the Appel Room with Her Noble Force big band. Known for her bold interpretations and fearless improvisations, Horn will present her own music—as well as works from female composers who’ve inspired her—in front of the Manhattan skyline.

Trumpeter Etienne Charles, known for his innovative stagings of Caribbean lore, returns to the Appel Room to present Folklore LIVE Vol. 2. Charles unveils new musical stories rooted in various elements of the African diaspora—including, but not limited to, Lowcountry Gullah-Geechee rituals, Haitian Vodou, Afro-Mexican Son Jarocho, and Garifuna rhythms—blending big band textures with dancers, masquerade, and spoken word.

Featuring the JLCO with Wynton Marsalis, this concert brings the unmistakable rhythms of Brazilian music to Rose Theater. Featuring new music from special guest bandolinist Hamilton de Holanda as well as the works of legendary composer Moacir Santos, this concert pulses with the heartbeat of Brazil, bringing its musical soul to life.

Back by popular demand, Blues Jam returns to Rose Theater for an electrifying night of soul, featuring Grammy Award winners, beloved icons, and rising stars—all celebrating the enduring power of the blues with a fresh, modern edge.