Wynton Marsalis News

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Piano phenomenon Elio Villafranca will bring the next generation of his popular "Letters to Mother Africa" concerts, the second in his series on the African continent's powerful influence on jazz and folk Cuban music, to Aaron Davis Hall at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 31.

After paying tribute to artistic inspirations during Fall 2016's DEMO, Damian Woetzel continues to unite artists from across fields around a common theme in performance on April 3, 2017 at 8:00 p.m. in the Eisenhower Theater. This installment of the multi-genre series brings together acclaimed artists for a special one-night performance to celebrate the combination of song and dance.

The National YoungArts Foundation (YoungArts) has announced that applications to become a 2018 YoungArts Winner will be accepted beginning today, March 15 through October 13, 2017. YoungArts identifies and nurtures the nation's most accomplished emerging artists in the visual, literary, design and performing arts between the ages of 15 and 18 or in high school grades 10-12. One of the most comprehensive programs dedicated to supporting and propelling young artists, YoungArts provides opportunities to participate in its programs nationwide and engage with renowned mentors, monetary awards, including prizes of up to $10,000, the chance to become a U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts, and guidance in taking important steps toward achieving their professional and artistic goals. Prospective candidates are encouraged to submit applications online at http://www.youngarts.org/apply. 

Peak Performances will present the All Terrain String Festival: Bolcom 4x4, a three-day festival in which four of the world's foremost string quartets will perform the work of prolific Pulitzer Prize-winning American composer William Bolcom, along with music by a wide variety of other composers, from Mozart to Dizzy Gillespie.

Tynan Davis (The Phantom of the Opera North American Tour, Abyssinian Mass with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra) recently released her self-titled debut album, TYNAN.

Jazz Women of New York is a new all-woman band conceived by vocalist Lee Torchia.  The core group is pianist Jill McManus, bassist Melissa Slocum, drummer Sylvia Cuenca, flutist Andrea Brachfeld, and saxophonist Carol Sudhalter, with occasional subs from the female side of NY jazz.

The nonprofit AT&T Performing Arts Center and AEG Presents announced today that tickets for Taj Mahal/Keb' Mo' will go on sale Friday, March 17 at 10 a.m. Grammy award-winning American blues musician, Taj Mahal and three-time Grammy winner and visionary roots-music storyteller, Keb' Mo' will perform for one night only at 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 20, 2017 at Strauss Square in the downtown Dallas Arts District. 

Named for alto saxophonist and jazz pioneer Charlie 'Bird' Parker who dubbed it 'The Jazz Corner of the World,' Birdland opened on December 15th 1949. For 60 years it has been home to jazz legends, from Parker, John Coltrane Duke Ellington and Count Basie to Oscar Peterson, Hank Jones, Diana Krall and everyone in between. The original 52nd street location was a cultural barometer and meeting place, inspiring the songs 'Birdland' and 'Lullaby of Birdland,' and serving as a regular haunt for celebrities and cultural figures. The modern incarnation is a state of the art nightclub featuring award winning Southern and Cajun cuisine, first rate sound and lighting and a who's who of contemporary musical artists, 7 nights a week.

Maestro Luke Frazier and The American Pops Orchestra - Washington, DC's innovative hometown orchestra - will continue their all-star 2016-2017 season with a new take on the classic tale  Cinderella: A Magical, Musical Tale today, March 11 at 2:00 PM at Live! at 10th and G (First Congregational UCC, 945 G Street NW, WDC 20001).

Check out the top stories from Detroit you might have missed this week and more!

Saxophonist, singer, and composer Grace Kelly plays with the heart and passion of an old soul yet with the genre-bending zest and energy of a 24-year-old. And Jazz Café is proud to host this young phenom, for two shows at 8:00PM and 10:00 PM, today, March 10th.

The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra presents famous duets and solos of Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, including "Love is Here to Stay," "Just One of Those Things" and highlights from Gershwin's Porgy and Bess, April 21-23 in Red Bank, Newark and New Brunswick. Vocalist Marva Hicks and trumpeter Byron Stripling bring Armstrong and Fitzgerald's legendary partnership to life; Lee Musiker conducts.

Thirteen year old world-class jazz artist Joey Alexander will have the audience at St. Cecilia Music Center in awe during his debut appearance in Grand Rapids on Thursday, March 23, 2017 at 7:30pm. Wynton Marsalis says of Joey, "There has never been anyone that you can think of who could play like that at his age. I love everything about his playing - his rhythm, his confidence, his understanding of the music."

The Chan Centre for the Performing Arts at UBC presents the Vancouver premiere of Germany's iconic vocalist Max Raabe and his brilliant,12-piece Palast Orchester on Sunday, April 9, 2017 at 7pm in the Chan Shun Concert Hall. Evoking a bygone age, Raabe and his band will treat audiences to a romantic evening with their inimitable renditions of celebrated classics.

On March 13-22, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra will embark upon its first tour to the United States in more than 35 years.  The RSNO, together with Music Director Peter Oundjian and violinist Nicola Benedetti will perform throughout the state of Florida with stops in Fort Lauderdale (Broward Center), West Palm Beach (Kravis Center), Sarasota (Van Wezel), Vero Beach (Indian River Symphonic Association), Gainesville (University of Florida), Fort Myers (Barbara B. Mann), and Daytona Beach (Peabody Auditorium).

Known for staging 'the ultimate in intimate productions' (The New York Times), On Site Opera (OSO) presents a trio of exciting new site-specific opera productions in 2017, beginning May 11-13 with Mozart's rarely-performed early opera The Secret Gardener (La finta giardiniera) at the West Side Community Garden.

In celebration of Southern Nevada residents' tremendous accomplishment in creating their own world-class performing arts complex, The Smith Center for the Performing Arts welcomes community members to attend its 5th Anniversary Concert at 7:30 p.m. today, March 7.

Bergen Performing Arts Center located at 30 North Van Brunt Street in Englewood, New Jersey presents Sarah Change sponsored by the Frank and Lydia Bergen Foundation-Saturday, April 8, 2017 at 8PM. Purchase tickets at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling bergenPAC's Box Office at (201) 227-1030.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its lineup for March 13-March 19, including Kurt Rosenwinkel and Caipi CD Release Celebration, "Songwriter Circle" featuring Paul Scott Goodman, Neil Berg, Gabe Violett, Rita Harvey, Selda Said & Derek Gregor, Eric Comstock, and more. Scroll down for details!