Jazz at Lincoln Center Celebrates Leonard Bernstein Centennial
Leonard Bernstein at 100 featuring the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, November 9–11, Rose Theater
Jazz at Lincoln Center joins the international centennial celebration honoring world-renowned educator, conductor, composer, activist and humanitarian Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990). As a composer, Bernstein united diverse musical elements at a time when it was not widely accepted, combining classical European traditions with American styles including jazz, blues, and Latin dance in iconic works including West Side Story, Candide, Wonderful Town, and On the Town. The global celebration, “Leonard Bernstein at 100,” celebrates his monumental career and legacy with over 2,000 events around the world. More information on all Bernstein events is available at leonardbernstein.com.
Jazz at Lincoln Center’s participation in the centennial celebration kicks off in Rose Theater, November 9–11, with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis. Grammy Award-nominated composer and arranger Richard DeRosa, whose talent is recognized from Broadway to industry-leading jazz magazines, and JLCO trombonist Vincent Gardner serve as co-music directors of the concerts. They will craft unique arrangements of Bernstein’s music from shows like West Side Story and Candide, as well as unexpected gems from Bernstein’s vast repertoire including “Lucky to Be Me,” “Touches,” and “Lonely Town.” DeRosa is currently the Director of Jazz Composition and Arranging at the University of North Texas and the Artistic Director for American Jazz Venues (AJV). Since 2012, he has conducted and arranged for the prestigious WDR Big Band in Cologne, Germany and served as the band’s chief conductor from 2014-2016.
In addition, percussionist, composer, educator and multi-Grammy Award nominee Bobby Sanabria will be at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, November 17–19, leading the big band featured on his recent Grammy-nominated album, Multiverse. His performance will feature new arrangements and interpretations of Bernstein’s complete West Side Story score, which fused progressive big band jazz, lyric opera, modern dance, and Latin rhythms.
Leonard Bernstein at 100 with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis and Bobby Sanabria Multiverse Big Band: West Side Story at 60 Reimagined will take place in Frederick P. Rose Hall, home of Jazz at Lincoln Center, located at Broadway at 60th Street, New York, New York. For additional information and to purchase tickets, visit jazz.org
Jazz at Lincoln Center’s 2017–18 season celebrates the organization’s 30th anniversary. Since the first downbeat of its summer concert series in 1987, Jazz at Lincoln Center has been a vital part of the global cultural landscape. Jazz at Lincoln Center was established as an independent non-profit organization in 1996; opened Frederick P. Rose Hall, the “House of Swing”, in 2004, making it the world’s first venue designed specifically for jazz; and launched Blue Engine Records in 2014 to share its vast archive of recordings. Over the past three decades, Jazz at Lincoln Center has become an important advocate for jazz, culture, and arts education globally, reaching an audience of nearly 2 million people of all ages and experiences through concerts, webcasting, musical instruction, and distribution of music scores—the vast majority of which is free of charge. To date, Jazz at Lincoln Center has produced more than 1,200 original concerts in the New York City area, with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra having performed in over 446 cities in 41 countries on five continents. This milestone season reflects on 30 years of celebrating the universal language of music and the influence of jazz in the present day. Throughout the 2017–18 season, Jazz at Lincoln Center will bring together a wide array of events, projects, virtuoso musicians, composers, and educators to illustrate the collaborative nature of the art form. Jazz at Lincoln Center’s 2017–18 season features performances by renowned artists including Joey Alexander, Chick Corea, Paquito D’Rivera, Eliane Elias, Ellis Marsalis, Dick Hyman, Marilyn Maye, Steve Miller, and Dianne Reeves; as well as Jazz at Lincoln Center debuts by the Harlem Quartet and vocalist and songwriter Somi. The milestone season will conclude with a grand finale world premiere by Wynton Marsalis, Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Managing and Artistic Director.
TICKET INFORMATION:
All single tickets for The Appel Room and Rose Theater can be purchased at jazz.org 24 hours a day or through CenterCharge at 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. Reservations for Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola can be made by calling 212-258-9595 or by visiting jazz.org
