Step into the world of Duke Ellington, one of the defining figures of American music, as experienced through the vision of Jason Moran, one of jazz’s most celebrated pianists, composers, and cultural curators. A Harlem-based visual artist as well, Moran blends inventive piano interpretations with bench-side storytelling and a striking video presentation of Gordon Parks’ iconic images of Ellington and Harlem. Moran transforms the concert into an experience that is immersive, bold, playful, and unforgettable. With music, stories, and imagery, this is more than a concert—it’s a declaration of independence for 2026.

About Jason Moran
Pianist, composer, and artist Jason Moran served as the Artistic Director for Jazz at The Kennedy Center for 14 years, shaping one of the nation’s most influential jazz programs. He has released 18 solo recordings on Blue Note Records and Yes Records. Moran curated the permanent exhibition Here to Stay for the Louis Armstrong Center in Queens, New York, and co-curated I’ve Seen the Wall: Louis Armstrong on Tour in the GDR 1965 at Das Minsk Kunsthaus in Potsdam, Germany. In 2022, he was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and was awarded the 2023 German Jazz Prize for Pianist of the Year. That same year, he released From the Dancehall to the Battlefield, an album and multimedia project exploring the music of World War I jazz pioneer and organizer James Reese Europe. His latest recording is Go to Your North with the Trondheim Jazz Orchestra and Ole Morten Vagan.

Attendance at all events is subject to the Festival security policy.

Don’t Miss: Jazz Talk: Listening to Duke on Monday, June 1

You might also like: Terence Blanchard + The E-Collective, Pedrito Martinez Group