Mary Lou Williams Jazz Festival 2024
Hosted by NEA Jazz Master Dee Dee Bridgewater
Terrace Theater
Join us in honoring the life and work of the “first lady of jazz,” legendary pianist and composer Mary Lou Williams. Hosted by the incomparable Dee Dee Bridgewater, this year’s two-day festival features performances by Eliane Elias, Endea Owens, Ingrid Jensen and the Center Song Project, Julia Keefe’s Indigenous Big Band, and more phenomenal women leading today’s jazz scene.
May 10 - 11, 2024
Fri. May 10, 2024 7:30p.m.
Sat. May 11, 2024 7:30p.m.
Genre
Jazz
Price Range
$40.00 – $60.00
Runtime
75 minutes
View Digital Program
The incomparable Dee Dee Bridgewater hosts the Kennedy Center’s 27th Annual Mary Lou Williams Jazz Festival, a two-day celebration honoring the “first lady of jazz” Mary Lou Williams (1910–1981) and the phenomenal women who continue to shape the genre.
On Friday, we spotlight Brazilian superstar, singer, pianist, and Grammy® winner Eliane Elias, who “sings like an angel, plays like the devil, and is renowned for the sumptuous sparkling eloquence she brings to jazz… soul, solitude, smarts, wildness, and passion” (Icon Magazine). Bass virtuoso Endea Owens will showcase her ecstatic blend of classic and contemporary that’s made her one of the most vibrant artists in the jazz world today.
Saturday’s performance features the dynamic post-bop stylings of Ingrid Jensen and the Center Song Project. Led by the award-winning Native American vocalist, Julia Keefe’s Indigenous Big Band joins the lineup to showcase the Indigenous roots of jazz through a groundbreaking 16-piece ensemble of all-star American Indigenous musicians.
Continue honoring the legacy of Mary Lou Williams with two FREE Millennium Stage performances! On Fri., May 10 and Sat., May 11, experience the third cohort of a national apprenticeship program for women and non-binary improvisers in jazz with the intersection of gender and race as a guiding principle.
Reserve tickets for Fri., May 10 here.
Reserve tickets for Sat., May 11 here.
Save up to 30% by purchasing a series of events with flexible options, and enjoy early access to get the best seats.
Group of 20 or more? Group Sales offers special terms and discounts for most performances.
²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵÃâ·Ñ°æapp is a non-profit institution, and your tax-deductible gift helps expand our arts and education offerings throughout the country.
All events and artists subject to change without prior notice.
All ticket prices are subject to change based on demand. Purchase early to lock in prices and the best seats!
Instituto Guimarães Rosa presents
Child Citizen Orchestra Quintet
Thu. May 23, 2024
Orquestra Criança Cidadã (Children’s Citizen Orchestra) is a Brazilian social project that has been changing the lives of hundreds of children and teenagers through musical education.
Instituto Guimarães Rosa presents
Hamilton de Holanda & Chris Potter
Sat. May 25, 2024
Hamilton de Holanda is a Brazilian bandolinist and three-time Latin Grammy winner. Chris Potter is an American jazz saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist. Choro music and jazz merge to create a fascinating blend of Brazilian and American musical traditions!
Jason Moran & Alicia Hall Moran: Family Ball
Fri. Jun. 7, 2024
Encompassing Jason and Alicia’s iconic blend of music and theater, this new work—set in their Harlem apartment—is intensely entertaining and visually stimulating. “It’s us examining each other’s repertoire,” says Jason, “my favorite songs of Alicia, Alicia’s favorite songs of mine.” Created during the pandemic, Family Ball is a creative feat. But more importantly, it’s a love note.
