Marsalis's city suites are where his composing gets loosest, folding Basque folk material, Chinese melody and southwest French village rhythm into a big band that still swings hard underneath. Rose Theater was purpose-built for this orchestra, so section balances come through without the mush of a converted hall. If you have only heard the JLCO on record, long-form Marsalis is the right live introduction.
What to expect
A full big band on the Rose Theater stage playing extended multi-movement suites rather than a set of standards. Expect solos distributed across the orchestra and Marsalis speaking to the audience between movements. Concerts start in the evening and run about two hours.
Good to know
- Frederick P. Rose Hall sits inside the Time Warner Center at Broadway and 60th; the A/B/C/D/1 to 59th St-Columbus Circle is directly below.
- Your ticket stub gets you a complimentary cover at Dizzy's Club for that evening's late set.
- Rose Theater is a purpose-built jazz room; even the upper rings are close to the stage.
- Jazz at Lincoln Center memberships include discounted tickets to mainstage concerts.
- Dress is casual; this is not a black-tie room.
- Accessible seating and assistive listening are available through the Jazz at Lincoln Center box office.
Get Saturday planned every Thursday
One email a week — the best of the NYC weekend board. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Common questions
What are the suites on the program?
The Vitoria Suite, the Shanghai Suite and the Marciac Suite, all written by Marsalis for cities the orchestra has toured to repeatedly.
Can I see a late set afterward?
Yes. Your concert ticket stub covers the cover charge at Dizzy's Club for the same evening's late show.
Where exactly is Rose Theater?
Inside Frederick P. Rose Hall at Columbus Circle, several floors above the street in the Time Warner Center.
More this weekend
