Wynton Marsalis, the first jazz musician to be awarded a Pulitzer Prize and a multi-Grammy Award winner, will make a triumphant return to Shenzhen Concert Hall this evening, following his impressive debut at the 2019 Belt and Road International Music Festival in the city.

Wynton Marsalis

The renowned trumpeter, composer, and bandleader will grace the stage alongside his Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (JLCO) and the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra, presenting a captivating program that melds jazz interpretations of Chinese folk melodies with Marsalis’ own compositions.

Audiences can anticipate exquisite renditions of beloved pieces such as “Dance of the Golden Snake,” “Horse Racing,” “Fishermen’s Song at Eventide,” and “The Murmuring Creek,” performed by the two orchestras with Marsalis as the featured soloist.

In the latter part of the performance, the ensemble will delve into “Jungle,” a composition by Marsalis that showcases a distinctive American sound intertwined with jazz elements seamlessly woven into a symphonic structure.

Marsalis and Jazz at Lincoln Center. File photo

Recognized as the world’s first jazz musician to perform and compose across the entire jazz spectrum, from its origins in New Orleans to bebop and modern jazz, Marsalis has continuously pushed boundaries with his versatile and dynamic music.

His repertoire spans from quartets to big bands, chamber ensembles to symphony orchestras, and even collaborations in tap dance and ballet, solidifying his position as one of the finest musicians and composers worldwide.

Hailing from a lineage of jazz musicians in New Orleans, Louisiana, Marsalis’ musical journey commenced early, performing with a local church band at 8 and later joining the New Orleans Philharmonic, New Orleans Symphony Brass Quintet, and other bands by the age of 14.

With nine Grammy Awards to his name, Marsalis made history in 1983 as the first artist to win the awards in both jazz and classical music categories, subsequently repeating this feat in 1984.

In 1987, Marsalis co-founded the iconic JLCO, an ensemble comprising 15 of the world’s most accomplished players, arrangers, and soloists, further solidifying his legacy.

Tickets: 380 yuan to 1280 yuan

Time: 7:30 p.m., Oct. 15

Venue: Shenzhen Concert Hall, Futian District

Metro: Line 3 or 4 to Children’s Palace Station, Exit D