The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has announced its jazz programming for the 2017-18 season (Sept. 2017–June 2018). Nine NEA Jazz Masters are slated to perform including Kenny Barron, Carla Bley, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Ron Carter, Paquito D’Rivera, Jimmy Heath, Lee Konitz, Jimmy Owens and Randy Weston.
Highlights of the upcoming season include all-star events to celebrate the centennial birthdays of Thelonious Monk and Dizzy Gillespie (both were born in Oct. 1917); pioneering South African artists Abdullah Ibrahim and Hugh Masekela reuniting in concert; Kennedy Center Artistic Director for Jazz Jason Moran with the NSO Pops performing the soundtrack to the movie Selma during a showing of the film; Carla Bley and the Liberation Music Orchestra in a performance of the music of bassist and composer Charlie Haden and continuation of the Discovery Artist and Renée Fleming VOICES series.
