Jazz at Lincoln Center

Jazz at Lincoln Center is a constituent organization of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, dedicated to preserving, expanding, and celebrating jazz through live performances, educational programs, and advocacy.

Founded in 1987 as a summer concert series and elevated to a full department in 1991, it became an official constituent in 1996 before opening its dedicated venue, Frederick P. Rose Hall, in 2004.

Under the leadership of Managing and Artistic Director Wynton Marsalis since 1987, the organization presents over 500 performances annually, including those by its resident ensemble, the 15-member Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (JLCO), formed in 1988 as an outgrowth of early concert series. Its mission—to entertain, enrich, and expand a global community for jazz—is pursued through diverse initiatives, such as the educational Swing University for adults, youth programs like Essentially Ellington for high school bands, international tours, and digital platforms like JAZZ LIVE and Blue Engine Records, reaching more than 3 million people each year.

The organization also maintains the Nesuhi Ertegun Jazz Hall of Fame, inducting influential figures annually, and curates archives that document jazz’s evolution, underscoring its role as a premier institution for the genre’s legacy and future.