On December 12-13, pianist Eric Reed leads a stellar group of musicians and vocalists to perform in Basie & The Blues in Jazz at Lincoln Center’s The Appel Room. Sets are at 7pm and 9:30pm. The Appel Room, in Jazz at Lincoln Center’s home, Frederick P. Rose Hall, is located at Broadway at 60th Street in New York, New York.
Basie & The Blues features music director and pianist Reed, vocalists Brianna Thomas and Kenny Washington, saxoph0nists Eric Alexander, and Tivon Pennicott, bass player Yasushi Nakamura and drummer McClenty Hunter performing a selection of tunes made famous by Count Basie, one of the leading figures in the Swing Era.
William James “Count” Basie established 4/4 swing as one of jazz’s predominant styles and solidified the link between jazz and the blues. An architect of the music with an original sound straight out of Kansas City, Count Basie led one of the greatest big bands of all time, featuring an enviable, hard-swinging rhythm section, premiere soloists, and a myriad of hit songs.
Reed and this group of today’s finest jazz musicians will be “Swinging the Blues” as they honor Basie, the nine-time GRAMMY® award winner and NEA Jazz Master, by highlighting the blues elements that set his orchestra apart. A soulful talent, Brianna Thomas made her Jazz at Lincoln Center debut in 2006. New Orleans native Kenny Washington sings with his own unique Crescent City sound, blending his roots in gospel and jazz virtuosity with modern soul.
Free pre-concert discussions nightly at 6pm and 8:30pm.
Ticket prices for The Appel Room are $55 and up, dependent on seating section for the 7pm sets, and $45 and up, dependent on seating section for the 9:30pm sets. Tickets can be purchased through jalc.org 24 hours a day 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).
Basie & The Blues will stream live in high-definition audio and video for free to a global audience via jazz.org/live. The concerts will also be available on Livestream’s mobile and connected TV applications with real-time DVR, chat, photos, and other materials available to fans worldwide.
Jazz at Lincoln Center’s 2014–15 Concert and Education Season features a season-long journey “through the Americas.” Through a diverse array of concerts and programs, Jazz at Lincoln Center’s 27th season will explore how jazz has both integrated and influenced the rich musical traditions of the Caribbean and North, South, and Central America. This season, Jazz at Lincoln Center also celebrates the 10th anniversary of Frederick P. Rose Hall, “The House of Swing,” which opened its doors on October 18, 2004. Click here for the complete season schedule.
Jazz at Lincoln Center proudly acknowledges its major corporate partners:
Amtrak, Bloomberg, Brooks Brothers,
The Coca-Cola Company, Con Edison,
Entergy, HSBC Premier,
The Shops at Columbus Circle at Time Warner Center,
and SiriusXM.