Jazz at Lincoln Center Gala celebrates ‘Rhythms that Move the World’ before founder Marsalis’s final season
Jazz at Lincoln Center and its orchestra (JLCO) built a bridge and danced all over it at their annual gala on April 15. The post Jazz at Lincoln Center Gala celebrates ‘Rhythms that Move the World’ before founder Marsalis’s final season appeared first on New York Amsterdam News.
Black News 
Jazz at Lincoln Center and its orchestra (JLCO) built a bridge and danced all over it at their annual gala on April 15 as they celebrated “Rhythms that Move the World,” drawing connections between jazz, its African roots, and its symbiotic relationship with the genre throughout history. The gala, which was hosted by renowned actress Angela Bassett and featured a slew of special guests, including salsa legend Ruben Blades, was held to raise money for the organization before founder Wynton Marsalis’s final season as artistic director of the “house of swing.”
The evening was a testament to the breadth of stylistic diversity that has emerged from traditional African rhythms, passed down through enslaved populations to countries like Puerto Rico and Cuba, and eventually finding their way to America where it gestated into blues, jazz, and beyond. The set list served almost as history lesson, including traditional folk, blues songs, jazz standards, and even new compositions such as selections from musical director Carlos Henriquez’s “Afro-Nyurican Suite,” tracing each style to its roots and illustrating how they connect to each other — in the process, connecting these communities and in a sense, celebrating a central tenet of New York City, where many of these communities and styles gestated and developed.
Renowned actress Angela Bassett hosted Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra in Rose Theater for performances at Jazz at Lincoln Center Gala on April 15, 2026. (Photo by Johnny Knollwood) 
Vocalist Ekep Nwelle joined Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra in Rose Theater for performances at Jazz at Lincoln Center Gala on April 15, 2026. (Photo by Johnny Knollwood) 
Dancers from Alvin Ailey joined Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra in Rose Theater for performances at Jazz at Lincoln Center Gala on April 15, 2026. (Photo by Johnny Knollwood)
Special guests, including Blades, Aymée Nuviola, Shenel Johns, Cyro Baptista, and Ghanaian djembe player Weedie Braimah, who was honored with the Award for Artistic Excellence, joined the JLCO in exploring the vast landscape of these compositions. Dancers from the renowned Alvin Ailey studio graced the stage for select songs, illustrating the relationship between music and dance, and how they informed and developed in conjunction with each other. Near the evening’s conclusion, Ken Chenault took a moment to honor founder Wynton Marsalis before his final season, which will feature a string of exciting performances. “Wynton is our founder, our heartbeat, and a true American original. He built a home for an art form that the world might have otherwise overlooked,” said Chenault as he accepted the Ed Bradley Award for Leadership in Jazz with his wife, Katherine. “Most importantly, he built an enduring institution that stands today as a beacon of excellence and creativity.”
You can get tickets to upcoming performances, check out next season’s schedule, become a member, or support by donating to Jazz at Lincoln Center by visiting jazz.org.
The post Jazz at Lincoln Center Gala celebrates ‘Rhythms that Move the World’ before founder Marsalis’s final season appeared first on New York Amsterdam News.
