Nov 19, 2024 12:57 PM
In Memoriam: Roy Haynes, 1925–2024
Powerhouse jazz drummer and bandleader Roy Haynes died Tuesday in Nassau County, New York. He was 99. One of the few…
“Jazz Icons: A Fine Romance” will present world premieres by renowned choreographers Jessica Lang and Dwight Rhoden.
(Photo: Courtesy The Washington Ballet)The Washington Ballet will present a spellbinding blend of ballet and jazz music featuring two highly anticipated world premieres by renowned choreographers Jessica Lang and Dwight Rhoden. “Jazz Icons: A Fine Romance,” a tribute to pioneering women in jazz and works inspired by groundbreaking pianists/composers, premieres at the Kennedy Center and runs Feb. 14–18. The event will celebrate jazz’s enduring influence on dance and art.
Jessica Lang infuses her choreography with improvisation and a deep appreciation for jazz’s legacy. She draws inspiration not only from the music itself but also from the art of Henri Matisse, whose cutouts and jazz series were influenced by the same spirit of improvisation and experimentation. Lang’s work emphasizes freedom, trust, communication and individual expression. By exploring movement and playing with dance, she creates a vibrant and ever-evolving physicality that mirrors the spontaneity of jazz itself.
Dwight Rhoden’s choreography will be a bold celebration of the courage, strength and pioneering spirit of these remarkable women. The ballet will pay homage to the unique and singular style of each artist, reflecting their vibrancy, character and musicality through movement.
As Rhoden artfully interprets the notes, rhythms and emotional depth of jazz music, he disrupts the typical structure of classic ballet, pushing the boundaries of storytelling and innovation. The result will be a visually stunning and immersive experience.
This evening’s program will showcase the artistry of jazz legends like Bill Evans, Dodo Marmarosa, Chick Corea, Chet Baker, Thelonious Monk, Ella Fitzgerald, Nancy Wilson, Lena Horne, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday and Mary Lou Williams performed by the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, with New York Voices for Dwight Rhoden’s piece and the piano trio of Craig Davis, Ian Ashby, and Christopher Latona to bring the music for Jessica Lang’s ballet into being. The music for “Jazz Icons: A Fine Romance” was curated by Marty Ashby, a Grammy-winning producer and founder and executive producer for MCG Jazz.
For more information on “Jazz Icons: A Fine Romance,” click HERE. DB
“I treat every day like it’s Thanksgiving,” said Roy Haynes.
Nov 19, 2024 12:57 PM
Powerhouse jazz drummer and bandleader Roy Haynes died Tuesday in Nassau County, New York. He was 99. One of the few…
Lou Donaldson was one of the originators of the hard bop movement in jazz back in the 1950s.
Nov 12, 2024 12:12 PM
Alto saxophonist Lou Donaldson, the final surviving member of the original Art Blakey quintet that in 1954 introduced…
“Watching people like Max Roach or Elvin Jones and seeing how they utilize the whole drum kit in a very rhythmic and melodic way and how they stretched time — that was a huge inspiration to me,” Hussain said in DownBeat.
Dec 17, 2024 9:58 AM
Tabla master Ustad Zakir Hussain, one of India’s reigning cultural ambassadors and a revered figure worldwide…
“I love doing ballads,” Mike Stern says. “It’s just a part of me, some part of emotionally how I feel sometimes.”
Dec 3, 2024 12:52 PM
Stories of major shifts and rebirths among musicians during the past five years are common, from weathering the…
Pianist Sullivan Fortner is one of this year’s nominees for Best Jazz Instrumental Album.
Nov 12, 2024 12:03 PM
The official 2025 Grammy nominations have been announced with a slate of 94 categories. Here, we’ll focus on jazz and…
