See jazz history in the makingasWynton Marsalis leads the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra during his final season as Artistic Director (2026–27). After decades of shaping the future of jazz, Marsalis brings his signature artistry, world-class musicians, and unforgettable performances to the stage one last time. Experience this once-in-a-lifetime performance.
Grammy-winning trumpeter Wynton Marsalis leads the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, featuring over a dozen of today’s finest jazz soloists and ensemble players. The orchestra performs works by legendary jazz composers as well as original compositions that celebrate and expand the American jazz tradition.
Wynton Marsalis (Music Director, Trumpet) is the Managing and Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center (JALC). Born in New Orleans in 1961 to jazz pianist Ellis Marsalis, Jr., he received his first trumpet at age six and began performing locally in ensembles ranging from the Fairview Baptist Church Band to the New Orleans Philharmonic. By age twelve, he was formally trained and performing across the city.
At seventeen, Marsalis moved to New York City to study classical trumpet at The Juilliard School while immersing himself in the vibrant jazz scene. He launched his career with Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers, and by nineteen, he was touring with his own band. To date, he has performed over 5,300 concerts in 856 cities across 66 countries.
Since his recording debut in 1982, Marsalis has released over 110 jazz and classical albums and won nine GRAMMY Awards. His jazz oratorio Blood on the Fields was the first jazz work to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music, and he remains the only musician to win GRAMMYs in both jazz and classical categories in the same year.
Marsalis is also a prolific composer, with over 600 songs, 11 dance scores, 13 suites, four symphonies, chamber works, string quartets, concertos, and numerous works for the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (JLCO). With JLCO, he has released 29 full-length albums and nine singles on Blue Engine Records.
