For Immediate Release: December 6, 2012
BIRTH OF THE COOL FESTIVAL KICKS OFF IN JANUARY 2013
AT JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, Jonathan Batiste, Bill Charlap, Frank Wess, Bucky Pizzarelli, Mary Stallings,
Aaron Diehl, and More
Who/What:
The 2012-13 Jazz at Lincoln Center 25th Anniversary Season features six festivals that reflect on jazz music’s legendary artists and celebrate the musicians performing today. The third festival in this series of special events kicks off this January with the Birth of the Cool Festival, highlighting the legendary era in jazz history. The Festival includes several simultaneous performances in Rose Theater, The Allen Room, and Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall and features:
- The Music of Gerry Mulligan & John Lewis
The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, and special guest Jonathan Batiste
January 18, 2013, 8pm, Rose Theater
January 19, 2013, 2pm & 8pm, Rose Theater
The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis addresses the stylish compositions and arrangements of saxophonist Gerry Mulligan and pianist John Lewis, whose recorded paths first intersected with Miles Davis’ legendary Birth of the Cool nonet. Neither jazz master was a stranger to the organization – both developed close relationships with JALC during the 90s. Mulligan performed in two JALC concerts in 1994. The then-named Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra also performed a posthumous concert for Mulligan in 1996. Lewis had 10 concert dates at JALC from 1997-2001. The Mulligan and Lewis styles are melody-rich, harmonically astute, and brimming with blues connotation, ideally suited for the JLCO sound. This performance features the charismatic and high-energy modern pianist Jonathan Batiste. Batiste says, “Jazz at Lincoln Center has made the case for why jazz is a supreme art form. During the last 25 years they’ve archived and curated the music, while honoring its masters and educating all the rest of us. I love the ‘Birth of the Cool’ era because it’s sophisticated, yet accessible. A wide spectrum of listeners can easily enjoy this music.” Free pre-concert discussion nightly at 7pm.
Ticket prices for the 8pm performances in Rose Theater are $10, $30, $50, $75, $95 or $120 dependent upon seating section. Ticket prices for the 2pm performance in Rose Theater are $10, $30, $50, $75, or $95 dependent upon seating section.
- Bill Charlap: The Cool School
January 18-19, 2013, 7:30pm & 9:30pm, The Allen Room
As he did on a memorable JALC concert in 2006, pianist Bill Charlap, joined by a hot ensemble, presents a stylistic, erudite view on the ‘cool’ school of jazz. This program features Frank Wess, Mary Stallings, and Bucky Pizzarelli. The full band consists of Charlap (piano), Kenny Washington (drums), Peter Washington (bass), Frank Wess (saxophone, flute), Mary Stallings (vocals), Bucky Pizzarelli (guitar), Steve Wilson (multi-instrumentalist), Steve Nelson (vibes), Jeremy Pelt (trumpet), Gary Smulyan (baritone saxophone), John Allred (trombone), Bob Stewart (tuba), and Jeff Scott (French horn). Charlap says the concert “will touch on the seminal arrangements and compositions written by Gerry Mulligan, Johnny Carisi, Gil Evans, and John Lewis for Miles Davis’ ‘Birth of the Cool’ nonet, The Modern Jazz Quartet, and the musical advances of Lester Young, Billie Holliday, and Count Basie.”
Ticket prices for The Allen Room are $65 for the 7:30pm sets and $10 or $55 for the 9:30pm sets.
- Aaron Diehl Quartet: Celebrating John Lewis and The Modern Jazz Quartet with Warren Wolf, David Wong, and Rodney Green, plus the MIJA String Quartet
January 16-20, 2013, sets at 7:30pm & 9:30pm, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola
Diehl says, “Our program at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola will highlight John Lewis’ extensive writing and arranging for the Modern Jazz Quartet, which epitomized ‘cool’ in every sense of the word. The ensemble, led by Lewis, consisted of a Yin and Yang between his judicious, carefully constructed piano stylings and Milt Jackson’s flawless virtuosity. Bassist Percy Heath and drummer Connie Kay kept it all in balance, and these characteristics are reflected in the MJQ oeuvre.” This performance includes Aaron Diehl, piano; Warren Wolf, vibraphone; David Wong, bass; Rodney Green, drums. Friday-Sunday features the MIJA String Quartet.
Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola cover charge: $35-40
Listening Party with the Aaron Diehl Quartet
January 10, 7pm – Irene Diamond Education Center
The Aaron Diehl Quartet will lead a retrospective of John Lewis’ legendary career as a pianist, band leader, and composer by going through recordings of the Modern Jazz Quartet and live examples.
Free and open to the public.
All concertgoers are invited to a free pre-concert festival on January 18 at 6:30pm featuring live music by the Raviv Markovitz Quintet; album art displays courtesy of the Jazz Record Center; and tastings by Bourbon St. Bar and Grille, John Brown Smokehouse, and more.
The 2012-13 season festivals also include the Dizzy & Bird Festival, the Duke Ellington Festival, and the Chick Corea Festival . Click here for more information on JALC’s 2012-13 concert season.
Where:
Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall, Broadway at 60th Street, 5th floor, New York, New York.
Tickets:
Tickets for Rose Theater and The Allen Room can be purchased through jazz.org or CenterCharge at 212-721-6500, open daily from 10am to 9pm. Tickets can also be purchased at the Jazz at Lincoln Center Box Office, located on Broadway at 60th Street, ground floor. Box Office hours: Monday-Saturday from 10am to 6pm (or 30 minutes past curtain) and Sunday from noon to 6pm (or 30 minutes past curtain).
Note: Hot Seats, $10 seats for each Rose Theater performance (excluding Jazz for Young People® concerts and other performances as specified) and select 9:30pm performances in The Allen Room (excluding Jazz & Popular Song concerts), are available for purchase to the general public on the Wednesday prior to each performance. Subject to availability. Available only for select Allen Room shows; please call 212-258-9800 for available Hot Seats performance dates. Hot Seats are available only by walk up at the Box Office.
Reservations for Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola can be made by calling212-258-9595 or 212-258-9795 and via Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola.
Sponsorship:
Jazz at Lincoln Center proudly acknowledges its major corporate partners: Bloomberg, Brooks Brothers, The Coca-Cola Company, Con Edison, Entergy, HSBC Bank, Qatar Airways, The Shops at Columbus Circle at Time Warner Center, and SiriusXM.
MasterCard® is the preferred card of Jazz at Lincoln Center.