Saxophonist Branford Marsalis and the jazz vocalist Dianne Reeves, two of today’s most acclaimed performers, open the PASA season at 3 p.m. on Sunday, September 27 at the Heymann Center in Lafayette. The Branford Marsalis Quartet joins the jazz greats in a celebration of the music of John Coltrane. It’s the only Louisiana stop of the tour. Tickets are available at pasaonline.org and the Heymann Center Box Office.
Branford Marsalis is one of the most influential and revered figures in contemporary music. This NEA Jazz master, three-time Grammy Award winner, and Tony and EMMY Award nominee is equally at home performing concertos with symphony orchestras and sitting in with members of the Grateful Dead. Many remember Marsalis as the musical director of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
The core of his musical universe remains the Branford Marsalis Quartet. After more than three decades with minimal personnel changes, this celebrated ensemble is revered for its uncompromising interpretation of a kaleidoscopic range of original compositions and jazz and popular classics.
Five-time Grammy winner Dianne Reeves is the world’s pre-eminent jazz vocalist. As a result of her virtuosity, improvisational prowess, and unique jazz and R&B stylings, Reeves received the Grammy for “Best Jazz Vocal Performance” for three consecutive recordings — a Grammy first in any vocal category.
Reeves was featured in George Clooney’s award-winning film Goodnight and Good Luck, for which she received a Grammy. Her most recent release, Beautiful Life, features Gregory Porter, Robert Glasper, Lalah Hathaway and Esperanza Spalding. Produced by Terri Lyne Carrington, Beautiful Life also won a Grammy. Reeves has received honorary doctorates from DePaul University, the Berklee College of Music and The Juilliard School, and like Branford, she was designated a Jazz Master by The National Endowment for the Arts — the highest honor the United States bestows on jazz artists. Her collaboration with the Branford Marsalis Quartet will be Reeves’ first album in twelve years.
First Horizon Bank is the presenting sponsor of this performance, with additional support from LFT Fiber, the Louisiana Division of the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.
The concert is the grand opening of PASA’s 26-27 season.
The season is a vibrant mix of music, dance, theater, and family entertainment. The legendary Martha Graham Dance Company performs on October 16; acclaimed actor Roger Guenveur Smith is onstage in Frederick Douglass on November 13; Skye Isaac’s Cinema Serenade is slated for February 19; Aquila Theatre’s dynamic adaptation of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde will be performed on March 11; and Jill Butler and Her Joyride Band play a tribute to Burt Bacharach on April 16.
The family-favorite production Dog Man: The Musical is a special event on January 12 at 6 p.m.
For more than 30 years, PASA has connected Acadiana with world-class artists and transformative experiences that celebrate the performing arts. This season promises to deliver unforgettable moments, foster community engagement, and inspire audiences of all ages.
“Choosing artists to bring to our community is quite fun, but at the same time very challenging. The hallmark of our mission is to bring in performers and ensembles that people follow, but do not often–or ever–have the chance to see these performers live,” Lyle.
PASA performances take place in two Lafayette venues: the Heymann Performing Arts Center located at 1373 S. College Road, and The Theater at Baranco, inside Dr. Raphael J. Baranco Elementary at 801 Mudd Ave. Both venues are located in Lafayette, LA.
For more information, to purchase tickets, or to learn about PASA’s outreach programs, visit www.pasaonline.org.
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