Duke Ellington found deep inspiration in Africa, travelling with his orchestra to Dakar, Senegal in 1966 to perform at the first World Festival of Negro Arts. This trip led him to compose several of his most iconic works, including Afro-Bossa, Liberian Suite, and the Grammy Award-winning Togo Brava Suite. Co-music-directed by JLCO saxophonists Chris Lewis and Alexa Tarantino, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis celebrates these compositions and the spirit of Duke's historic trip, nearly 60 years later.

WYNTON MARSALIS, Music Director, Trumpet
RYAN KISOR, Trumpet
MARCUS PRINTUP, Trumpet
MIKE RODRIGUEZ, Trumpet
VINCENT GARDNER, Trombone
CHRIS CRENSHAW, Trombone
ELLIOT MASON, Trombone
SHERMAN IRBY, Alto and Soprano Saxophones, Flute, Clarinet
ALEXA TARANTINO, Alto and Soprano Saxophones, Flute, Clarinet, Piccolo
CHRIS LEW(S, Tenor and Soprano Saxophones, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet
ABDIAS ARMENTEROS, Tenor and Soprano Saxophones, Clarinet, The Zou Family Chair in Saxophone
PAUL NEDZELA, Baritone and Soprano Saxophones, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet
DAN NIMMER, Piano, The Zou Family Chair in Piano
CARLOS HENRIQUEZ, Bass, The Mandel Family Chair in honor of Kathleen B. Mandel
OBED CALVAIRE, Drums

 Presented without the Nashville Symphony.