Marsalis to Exit Jazz at LC

Wynton Marsalis, founder of Jazz at Lincoln Center and the driving force behind the resurgence of jazz in this country, will exit as artistic and administrative leader of JALC in July of 2027; he’ll stay on as advisor until his contract expires, in 2028. He will have been JALC’s top man and figurehead for 40 years, all the while maintaining his standing as one of the top jazz trumpeters and band leaders in the world.

“It is with immense gratitude that we recognize his immeasurable contributions to JALC and the art of jazz,” said Board Chair Clarence Otis. “Wynton dared to imagine a world in which jazz is a widely experienced and celebrated art form and has worked tirelessly for most of his life to make that dream a reality. He has also been deeply committed to educating and nurturing new generations of jazz musicians.”

Describing JALC’s founding goal as “to build an enduring jazz institution that would both entertain and educate by exposing multi-generational audiences to an often-overlooked aspect of American culture,” Marsalis & Co. have certainly achieved their end. Starting from scratch in 1987 as a summer jazz series, JALC today owns and operates Frederick P. Rose Hall at Columbus Circle, where it presents, records, and teaches the artform while overseeing three stages—the Rose Theater, the Appel Room, and Dizzy’s Club—and supports its own, JALC orchestra, which tours widely.

“JALC and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra have always been my main artistic priority as a musician and a citizen,” said Marsalis, noting the organization’s upcoming 40^th anniversary. “Performing and nurturing the future of jazz and its musicians through JALC has been the honor of a lifetime, and I am very grateful…. It is time for new leadership to take the institution to even higher ground. We are rich in emerging, extremely talented, capable, and inspired musicians and advocates [and] there couldn’t be a better time for this transition.”

In preparation for that, the board has appointed two committees: One to work with Marsalis on identifying future artistic director candidates and one to search for a successor to JALC Executive Director Greg Scholl, who exits in June after 14 years with the organization.  

Wynton Marsalis was Musical America's 2004 Artist of the Year.