By Matt Micucci
Jazz at Lincoln Center’s 2016-17 season will run from September to next June, and will be the first full slate of programming since the re-opening of the Frederick P. Rose Hall. Its opening concert will take place on September 22, when the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, led by Wynton Marsalis, will take to the stage with a program titled “Handful of Keys: A Century of Jazz Piano,” which will then be repeated two days later and during which they will be joined by pianists Dick Hyman and Joey Alexander. These two performances will be followed by eight more throughout the season, in which the orchestra will pay tributes to Dizzy Gillespie in January, Buddy Rich and Ella Fitzgerald in April, and Thelonious Monk in June.
The season is in fact defined by many such tributes and celebrations. On October 14-15, a program titled “Jazz 100: The Music of Dizzy, Ella, Mongo & Monk” will spotlight an all-star group led by pianist Danilo Pérez, while saxophonist Jimmy Heath will be presiding over his own 90th birthday celebration on October 21-22.
Other highlights of the season include a Valentine’s Day warm-up on February 19-20 by Dianne Reeves, concerts by Joshua Redman with his new quartet, Still Dreaming, on March 31-April 1, a more experimental endeavor featuring the electro-acoustic project led by Dave Douglas named New Sanctuary on March 3-4, while blues-rock guitarist Steve Miller will celebrate the music of T Bone Walker, one of his influences, on December 9-10.
For schedules and ticket information, go to www.jazz.org