Jazz Police - Wynton Marsalis, Jazz at Lincoln Center Return to Orchestra Hall, March 14

One of the world’s premiere jazz orchestras will be in the Twin Cities for a performance at Orchestra Hall on Sunday, March 14th, followed by a day of clinics at two Twin Cities high schools. The 15-piece Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, directed by trumpeter and jazz icon Wynton Marsalis, will present selections from Portrait in Seven Shades, a suite by saxophonist Ted Nash, as well as repertoire from such luminaries as Count Basie, Mary Lou Williams and others.

Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra

Founded in 1988, the JLCO is one of the world’s most accomplished jazz orchestras, dubbed by the Chicago Tribune as “the greatest large jazz ensemble working today.” The musicians have performed traditional and newly commissioned works throughout their international tours and Manhattan-based home concert seasons. Additionally, the JALC has performed with the New York Philharmonic, London Symphony and Berlin Philharmonic. Their reach extends beyond the typical jazz audience to children, youth and families through such programs as Jazz for Young People, the Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition and Festival, a jazz education curriculum, and a variety of other programs. JALC’s weekly radio series, Jazz at Lincoln Center Radio, won the prestigious Peabody Award in 1997. The orchestra has also recorded, most recently releasing Portrait in Seven Shades (2010).

Wynton Marsalis and the JLCO

Wynton Marsalis and Ali Jackson©Andrea Canter

Perhaps the most readily recognized name in jazz today, Wynton Marslis was the first jazz composer to win the Pulitzer Prize (for 1994’s Blood on the Fields) and the only artist to receive both jazz and classical Grammies in the same year. New Orleans native Marsalis is one of four musician sons of pianist/educator Ellis Marsalis. In addition to leading the JLCO, Wynton leads his septet and serves as a U.N. Messenger of Peace and a cultural ambassador through the State Department’s CultureConnect program. His series of “Standard Time” recordings are considered modern classics.

The JLCO also includes: Sean Jones, Ryan Kisor, and Marcus Printup, trumpets; Vincent Gardner, Chris Crenshaw, and Elliot Mason, trombones; Sherman Irby, Ted Nash, Walter Blanding, Jr., Victor Goines, and Joe Temperley, saxes and reeds; Dan Nimmer, piano; Carlos Henriquez, bass; and Ali Jackson, drums.

JLCO Clinics at Minneapolis South and St. Paul Central

On Monday, March 15th, musicians of the JLCO will conduct clinics with two area high schools that participated in the JLCO’s local high school festival last year. At South High, the clinic will be held from 11 am til noon; at Central, the clinic will be from 2:30-4:00 pm.

The Minnesota Orchestra Hall is located at 11th and Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis. Tickets for the March 14th concert at 7 pm are available from Minnesota Orchestra Ticket Services at 11th and Marquette in Minneapolis; online at www.minnesotaorchestra.org or by calling (612) 371-5656 or (800) 292-4141. More about Jazz at Lincoln Center at www.jalc.org.