Jazz at Lincoln Center’s 2017 Gala, entitled “Ella at 100: Forever The First Lady of Song,” will celebrate the centennial of Ella Fitzgerald whose legacy and influence define a classic era of jazz vocal. Through diverse and rich repertoire arranged by members of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, the evening’s performances will demonstrate why Ella, the “First Lady of Song,” remains unrivaled in succinct phrasing and uncompromising musicality. The organization’s one-night only benefit performance and dinner – one of the most highly regarded social events in the city – will take place on Wednesday, April 26, 2017 at 7pm at Frederick P. Rose Hall, the “House of Swing,” located at Broadway at 60th Street, New York, New York.
Harry Connick Jr. will host this once-in-a-lifetime concert event which will feature the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis joined by an all-star roster of vocalists spanning generations and genres to honor Ella Fitzgerald’s artistry. Renée Fleming, Roberta Gambarini, Diana Krall, Alison Krauss, Marilyn Maye, Audra McDonald, Cécile McLorin Salvant in duet with pianist Sullivan Fortner, Camille Thurman and Kenny Washington will illustrate how Ella’s most identifiable traits and complete devotion to originality and authenticity inspire the greatest musicians of our time.
Jazz at Lincoln Center will present the Ed Bradley Award for Leadership to David and Thelma Steward. In addition to providing generous support to Jazz at Lincoln Center’s education and performance initiatives, business leader and philanthropist David Steward and his wife Thelma have transformed the arts community in their adopted hometown, St. Louis. Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Ed Bradley Award for Leadership is named in honor of Ed Bradley who served on the Jazz at Lincoln Center board from 1992 until his death in 2007. The esteemed award recognizes and celebrates the integrity, wisdom, and pioneering spirit of outstanding leaders in jazz.
On this special evening the organization will bestow the Jazz at Lincoln Center Award for Artistic Excellence to NEA Jazz Master Benny Golson in recognition of the tenor saxophonist, composer and arranger’s influential career.
Proceeds from the 2017 Gala will help enable the diverse education programs and resources produced by Jazz at Lincoln Center each year. Through its concerts, free webcasts, direct musical instruction and distribution of scores, Jazz at Lincoln Center reaches more than two million people, of all ages, around the world.
Gala Underwriters
Helen and Bob Appel
Jody and John Arnhold
David and Thelma Steward
Gala Co-Chairmen
Lisa and Dick Cashin
Diana and Joseph DiMenna
Sharon Sullivan and Jeffrey Kindler
Rebecca and Art Samberg
Burwell and Chip Schorr
Gala Vice Chairmen
Anonymous
Amy and David Abrams
Jessica and Natan Bibliowicz
Betsy Cohn
Gail and Al Engelberg
Ann Tenenbaum and Thomas H. Lee
Ronald D. McCray
Jacqueline L. Bradley and Clarence Otis, Jr.
Karen and Charles E. Phillips
Susan Rudin
Laura and Lywal Salles
Barry F. Schwartz
Gala Benefactors
Michael D. Fricklas and Donna J. Astion
Buzzy Geduld
Diana and Jonathan F.P. Rose
Lisa Roumell and Mark Rosenthal
Lisa and David T. Schiff
Dianne and David Stern
Daria L. and Eric J. Wallach
Gala ticket prices begin at $1,500.00 and table prices begin at $35,000. For tickets, please contact the Jazz at Lincoln Center Benefit Office at 212-245-6570 or [email protected].
A limited number of concert-only tickets are $150 and $200 and can be purchased on jazz.org 24 hours a day or by calling CenterCharge on 212-721-6500, open daily from 10am – 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 are Monday- Saturday from 10am to 6pm (or 30 minutes past curtain) and Sunday from noon to 6pm (or 30 minutes past curtain).
Jazz at Lincoln Center proudly acknowledges
its major corporate partners:
Bloomberg, Brooks Brothers, The Coca-Cola Company,
Con Edison, Entergy, SiriusXM, Steinway & Sons,
The Shops at Columbus Circle at Time Warner Center,
and United Airlines.