Courtesy/ Jess S.

The Lincoln Center Orchestra performs “Happy Birthday.” 

Academy’s Jazz Ensemble, directed by Jessica Sneeringer, were guests at Wynton Marsalis’s award-winning Jazz Band on February 9, 2023.  

A graduate of Juilliard, Marsalis has won a Pulitzer and nine Grammys. These days, one can find Marsalis leading the premier Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra on its national tour. 

The concert was exclusive to student jazz bands of all ages across Central Ohio. 

“Wynton Marsalis’s jazz band offered a unique experience that expanded my knowledge about jazz’s emotions and techniques,” said Charlie S., summarizing the band’s post-concert ruminations. 

Rather than playing fast and complicated pieces, the Orchestra emphasized technique and musicality. Most of the tunes were improvisational, containing solos and smaller, independent rhythms. Some fan favorites include Duke Ellington’s creations, Lady Mac, and Sophisticated Lady.