Winter’s hottest jazz festival returns with an all-star lineup and a weekend bursting with energy, connection, and world-class music! Kes headlines with two exclusive concerts featuring jazz greats including Etienne Charles, showcasing their Caribbean flair. Tiered festival passes give guests access to performances throughout the venue, celebrating the legacy of Eddie Palmieri and spotlighting artists such as Herlin Riley, Tomeka Reid, Solomon Hicks, and Kate Kortum, winner of the 2025 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition. Experience the full spectrum of jazz, all under one warm roof!

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.

Tap meets sacred jazz in a powerful, one-of-a-kind Ellington experience. Acclaimed tap dancer John Manzari joins Grammy Award-winning pianist and music director Luther S. Allison to bring Duke Ellington’s most personal works to life in the Appel Room, where sweeping views of Columbus Circle and Central Park frame the stage. A first-call dectet and a standout vocal team featuring C. Anthony Bryant, Ekep Nkwelle, and the Sunhouse Singers with Joie Bianco, Kate Kortum, and June Cavlan dive into the spiritual heart of Ellington’s music, creating an evening that feels vibrant, uplifting, and deeply moving.

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—Pelt's Masks, which delves into the folklore, mysticism and overall significance of African tribal masks, and Owens' 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.

Made possible by the John and Jody Arnhold Innovation Fund.

ARNHOLD INNOVATION SERIES

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.

Made possible by the John and Jody Arnhold Innovation Fund.

Swing, smile, and discover the magic of Louis Armstrong as the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra brings his music to life with music director Alexa Tarantino and host Catherine Russell, whose warm vocals and storytelling have made her a favorite with audiences. Bursting with rhythm and joy, this family-friendly concert introduces young listeners to “Pops” and the spirit that shaped jazz, offering a vibrant first encounter with one of music’s greatest legends.

This program funded through the generosity of Mica and Ahmet Ertegun.

Backed by a full big band, drummer Ulysses Owens, Jr. and British-Nigerian bassist Michael Olatuja present a unique concert taking the audience through the evolution of Afrobeat— a genre of West African acoustic music made famous by Fela Kuti— to today’s popular music of West Africa, Afrobeats, a more electrified sound pulling inspiration from Afrobeat. With their innovative approach and high-octane energy, they’ll take you on a thrilling musical journey through the music’s infectious grooves, all set against the stunning backdrop of nighttime Manhattan.

 Generous support for Big Band Afrobeat is provided by Jacqueline L. Bradley and Clarence Otis.

ARNHOLD INNOVATION SERIES

Grammy Award–winning pianist Danilo Pérez and saxophonist Godwin Louis join the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis for a world premiere that traces the musical connections between Africa and the Americas. Featuring two new commissions, the program draws on Afro-Caribbean, Latin, and West African influences shaped by Pérez’s Panamanian heritage and Louis’s Haitian roots and travels. Grammy Award–winning vocalist Catherine Russell, spoken word artist and cultural historian Yvette Modestin, and master percussionist Weedie Braimah add voice, narrative, and rhythmic depth, creating an immersive concert experience.

Made possible by the John and Jody Arnhold Innovation Fund.

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, Tony Scherr, and Rudy Royston. On Saturday, he's joined by vocalist Petra Haden, drummer Tim Angulo, and trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire.

Join the WeBop Family Jazz Band for a high-energy musical adventure that brings the joyful rhythms of Africa and the African Diaspora to life!

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 story of the blues, beginning with W. C. Handy, the “Father of the Blues.” JLCO saxophonist Sherman Irby leads an electrifying evening with longtime JLCO collaborator and vocalist Kenny Washington, hailed by Wynton Marsalis as “a real improviser who brings depth to everything he does.” Together with an all-star lineup of special guests, the band follows the blues up the Mississippi River, celebrating its roots in American culture and its transformation into a sound that changed 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.

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.

Major support for Sketches of Miles is provided by Angela and Robert Kissane.

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.

The JLCO with Wynton Marsalis lights up Rose Theater with a high-energy celebration of Brazilian jazz, powered by Latin Grammy–winning bandolin virtuoso Hamilton de Holanda, who performs throughout the night. The concert brings the iconic sound of Moacir Santos to the stage, honoring the pioneering composer whose work helped define Brazil’s modern musical identity, and pairs it with Holanda’s own electrifying new music. Together, the program bursts with rhythm, color, and the unmistakable pulse of Brazil.

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.