African Routes: Danilo Pérez & Godwin Louis The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra
About This Event
At Jazz at Lincoln Center, African Routes pairs pianist-composer Danilo Pérez and saxophonist Godwin Louis with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra led by Wynton Marsalis. The program frames jazz within African diasporic lineages, combining Pérez’s cross‑cultural rhythmic writing and Louis’s explorations of Benin and Kongo-derived material with the JLCO’s disciplined big‑band arranging and ensemble focus.
About Birth of the Blues(song)
First heard in 1926, “Birth of the Blues” paired Ray Henderson’s music with lyrics by Buddy DeSylva and Lew Brown, arriving through a Broadway revue at a moment when New York stages were absorbing and repackaging blues idioms for mass audiences. Early recordings that same year helped fix the tune in the popular-jazz repertoire. Now at Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, Sherman Irby, and Kenny Washington places it inside a repertory program tracing the blues lineage associated with W.C. Handy. The song’s importance lies in how it reveals Broadway’s role as a crossroads for American vernacular music.
About the Artists
African Routes: Danilo Pérez & Godwin Louis The JLCO
African Routes: Danilo Pérez & Godwin Louis The JLCO is a Jazz at Lincoln Center presentation that brings pianist-composer Danilo Pérez and saxophonist Godwin Louis into dialogue with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, led by Wynton Marsalis.
Wynton MarsalisBill Frisell: 75th Birthday Celebration with Special GuestsWeBop Family Jazz Party: Jazz
Wynton Marsalis is a jazz trumpeter, composer, and bandleader closely associated with Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City, where he has long served as a central artistic voice. His work spans concert-hall composition and small-group swing, with an emphasis on ensemble balance and the language of the blues.
Africa
Africa is a jazz artist heard on New York City stages at Jazz at Lincoln Center, where the music is treated as a living repertory. Their work has intersected with projects such as African Routes with Danilo Pérez and Godwin Louis and with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra under Wynton Marsalis, alongside appearances connected to Bill Frisell and Jazzmeia Horn.
Danilo Pérez
Danilo Pérez is a masterful jazz pianist and composer whose vibrant performances have captivated audiences around the world. Known for his innovative and socially conscious creations, Pérez brings a rich blend of cultural influences to his work, often drawing from his Panamanian roots.
Godwin Louis
Immerse yourself in the vibrant world of jazz with Godwin Louis, a sensational saxophonist, composer, and arranger who brings a refreshing blend of African roots and diasporic influences to his music. Regularly captivating audiences at the iconic Jazz at Lincoln Center, Louis has graced the stage alongside jazz luminaries such as Danilo Pérez and Wynton Marsalis.
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra
The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, a vibrant ensemble under the artistic leadership of Wynton Marsalis, stands as a cornerstone of New York City's jazz scene. Known for their dynamic performances at iconic venues like Jazz at Lincoln Center and 92NY, this group brings the rich tradition of big band jazz to life with a modern twist.