The shared themes of two jazz genres get explored in ‘Cool School & Hard Bop’

The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis explores works by greats Horace Silver, Freddie Hubbard, Lennie Tristano, Benny Golson and more in “Cool School & Hard Bop.” The program had its premiere in December at JaLCO’s home base, the Rose Theater in Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City.

Now JaLCO is taking the program on the road for its winter tour, which includes a two-night residency Jan. 24-25 at Symphony Center. “The Cool School & Hard Bop” program will be performed Jan. 25.

“Cool School & Hard Bop” explores the shared themes of these two genres. The program features reinterpretations of iconic recordings by Miles Davis, the Modern Jazz Quartet, the Max Roach/Clifford Brown Quintet, Horace Silver and Art Blakey, alongside newly commissioned works by Benny Green and Luther Allison.

The program is under the music direction of JaLCO saxophonist Sherman Irby and JaLCO frequent collaborator, pianist, composer and arranger Joe Block. “Cool School & Hard Bop” explores the shared themes of the cool jazz movement, known for its mellow lyricism and striking, often surprising arrangements and hard bop, distinguished by bluesy melodicism and virtuosic vocabulary. The program also will feature the world premieres of two new works: For Duke Pearson by Benny Green and Milk Route by Luther Allison.

The dynamic program combines vitality and restraint. The performance showcases big band and small group arrangements performed by members of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis and special guest pianist Benny Green, a veteran of bands led by masters such as Art Blakey, Ray Brown and Betty Carter.

There will be a free pre-concert discussion nightly at 6:30 p.m. hosted by Seton Hawkins, Jazz at Lincoln Center Director of Education Resources and Public Programming.