Wynton Marsalis © Joe Martinez
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra
Forever in the spirit of swing: the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra brings together 15 of perhaps the best soloists, ensemble members and arrangers of modern jazz. The hugely talented musicians don’t just wallow in jazz, they adore it. So it comes as no surprise that jazz legend and the winner of nine Grammy awards, Wynton Marsalis, has conducted the New York-based ensemble for more than two decades. The trumpet virtuoso and »his« Big Band have been touring the globe since 1991, always stylishly clothed in double-breasted suits – out of respect for the music and for their audiences, naturally. The audience of the Wiener Konzerthaus can look forward to an optimistic programme in the three concerts of the portrait series. The collective will celebrate 25 years of democracy in South Africa and also explore the timeless music of Thelonious Monk. As the song lyric says: »It don’t mean a thing, if it ain’t got that swing.«