Jazz at Lincoln Center (JALC) announces a weekend of extraordinary performances taking place on each of its stages to mark the 20th anniversary of Frederick P. Rose Hall, known as “The House of Swing” and home of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. On October 18-21, the organization celebrates twenty years of unparalleled jazz experiences with a series of performances featuring artists who have a rich history at JALC, including Rubén Blades, performing with Boca Livre & Editus Ensemble in Rose Theater (Oct. 18-19); Bryan Carter, with his newest work, Celebrating Bayard Rustin, featuring vocalists Vuyo Sotashe, J. Hoard, Shenel Johns, and Georgia Heers in the Appel Room (Oct. 18-19); and Jon Faddis and Friends in Dizzy Gillespie Birthday Celebration at Dizzy’s Club (Oct. 18-21).
Select performances will stream exclusively on jazzlive.com:
Rubén Blades with Boca Livre & Editus Ensemble on Oct. 19 at 7:30 p.m. ET
Bryan Carter: Celebrating Bayard Rustin on Oct. 18, 7:00 & 9:00 p.m. ET
Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall opened its doors on October 18, 2004. “The whole space is dedicated to the feeling of swing, which is a feeling of extreme coordination,” explained Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Managing and Artistic Director Wynton Marsalis, of his vision for what would eventually become known as the House of Swing. “Everything is integrated: the relationship between one space and another, the relationship between the audience and the musicians, is one fluid motion, because that’s how our music is.”
Under the visionary leadership of Marsalis, the expertise of renowned architect Rafael Viñoly, and a team of esteemed acoustic engineers, this 100,000-square-foot space – a product of a $131 million capital campaign – boasts three meticulously designed concert and performance venues – Rose Theater, the Appel Room, and Dizzy’s Club. Each space is crafted to enhance the warmth and clarity of jazz, setting a new standard for performance spaces worldwide.
Frederick P. Rose Hall, the home of Jazz at Lincoln Center, is located at 60th Street and Broadway in New York City. For information, visit jazz.org.
20 Years of Frederick P. Rose Hall Performance Schedule:
Rubén Blades with Boca Livre & Editus Ensemble
October 18-19, 7:30 p.m. ET
Rose Theater
Rubén Blades, an innovative composer and performer, has been deeply influenced by Brazilian music in his songwriting in his early days. He took inspiration from Brazilian music to create his unique brand of socially conscious songs and was inspired by harmonies present in Brazilian music to create some of the most well-known songs in the afrocuban genre. Blades has acknowledged this influence throughout his career, and paid tribute to Brazil with the Grammy Award winning album Pasieros (2023) in collaboration with Boca Livre. Joining them on stage will be Costa Rica’s Editus Ensemble, a Latin Jazz and New World Music band, that accompanied Blades for part of his career in the 1990’s and early 2000s and helped him create a more universal sound. Repertoire that will be performed with this unique ensemble include songs from the albums Pasieros (2023), 2002 Grammy Award and 2003 Latin Grammy Award winner Mundo (2002), and 1999 Grammy Award winner Tiempos (1999). To purchase tickets, visit jazz.org/ruben.
Rubén Blades first graced the Rose Theater stage with Una Noche Con Rubén Blades on November 13, 2014, and has since been a featured performer at Jazz at Lincoln Center.
Blades is this season’s Lincoln Center Visionary Artist, which honors an extraordinary artist whose impact, vision, and values embrace the transformative power of the arts. More about the season long celebration is here.
This event is a co-production with Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, combining cultural dynamism and artistic excellence.
Rubén Blades with Boca Livre and Editus Ensemble is presented with generous support from COPA Airlines
Bryan Carter: Celebrating Bayard Rustin
October 18, 7:00 p.m. & 9:00 p.m. ET
October 19, 2:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m. ET
Appel Room
2024 Grammy and Tony Award winner Bryan Carter brings Celebrating Bayard Rustin to the Appel Room. The talented drummer, composer, and vocalist presents the world premiere of his new jazz oratorio “Rustin in Renaissance,” a tribute to the influential Civil Rights activist and musician.
Leading the Jazz at Pride Orchestra, a 35-piece ensemble, Carter takes us on a musical journey featuring powerhouse vocalists Vuyo Sotashe, J. Hoard, Shenel Johns, and Georgia Heers as they perform songs ranging from Billy Strayhorn to Shania Twain, blending various eras and styles in a performance that culminates in the world premiere of “Rustin in Renaissance.” Through a blend of jazz, spoken word, and evocative storytelling, Carter and his ensemble will explore Rustin’s profound impact on both history and music. To purchase tickets, visit jazz.org/rustin.
Carter’s journey began with Appel Presents: Divas of the Silver Screen on December 18, 2015, and he has since captivated audiences with his Jazz at Pride program at Dizzy’s Club. The award-winning musician and composer returns to lead his own band in the Appel Room as part of the events to mark the 20th Anniversary of Frederick P. Rose Hall.
Special thanks to the Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice and Robt Martin-Seda Schreiber for providing inspiration and access to research materials.
This evening’s program is co-produced, in part, by Jazz at Pride and Bandstand Presents.
This program is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.
Rustin in Renaissance is made possible with the support of Jazz Road Grants, a national initiative of South Arts, with additional support from the MAP Fund.
Dizzy Gillespie Birthday Celebration with Jon Faddis and Friends
October 18-19: 7:00 p.m. & 9:00 p.m. ET
October 20: 5:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. ET
October 21: 7:00 p.m. & 9:00 p.m. ET
Dizzy’s Club
Renowned trumpeter Jon Faddis and special guests will bring to life the vibrant, groundbreaking spirit of Dizzy Gillespie’s music during a heartfelt tribute to the jazz legend on what would have been his 107th birthday at Dizzy’s Club. Faddis, a protégé of Gillespie himself, will lead an all-star ensemble in a performance filled with exuberant bebop, masterful improvisation, and a joyous homage to one of jazz’s true innovators. To purchase tickets, visit jazz.org/dizzys.
Faddis made his debut at Dizzy’s Club with the memorable Trumpet Triumph alongside trumpeters Terell Stafford and Sean Jones on September 23, 2010, and has been a beloved performer at the club for more than 14 years.