Wynton Marsalis

A 2011 NEA Jazz Master and arguably the most famous jazz musician alive, trumpeter Wynton Marsalis is an iconic figure in the evolution of the art form and a tireless advocate for jazz as America’s classical music. On this bittersweet occasion, he returns for his final Bay Area appearances with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra before he steps down after the 2026-27 Season. From his New Orleans beginnings and fiery debut with legendary drummer Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers to his string of acclaimed albums, Marsalis has amassed an unrivaled number of awards and accolades, including nine GRAMMYs and the Pulitzer Prize for Music, the first ever awarded to a jazz artist. Since 1988, he led the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, a 15-piece assemblage of virtuosos which has contemporized the notion of a "big band," simultaneously honoring the rich heritage of Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong while debuting a stunning variety of commissions from illustrious names including Joe Henderson, Christian McBride, Freddie Hubbard, Joe Lovano and of course, Wynton himself. With these farewell performances, the 2022 SFJAZZ Gala honoree turns this page in his artistic evolution in grand style, appearing one last time on the Miner stage with the greatest large jazz ensemble on earth. Don’t miss it! Wynton Marsalis has been described as the most outstanding jazz musician and trumpeter of his generation, as one of the world’s top classical trumpeters, as a big band leader in the tradition of Duke Ellington, a brilliant composer, a devoted advocate for the Arts and a tireless and inspiring educator. He carries these distinctions well. His life is a portrait of discipline, dedication, sacrifice, and creative accomplishment. The sound of Wynton Marsalis’ band is inspired by the basic principals of democracy. According to Marsalis, what you hear in a great jazz band is the sound of democracy. “The jazz band works best when participation is shaped by intelligent communication.” This inte