Kurt Rosenwinkel to debut new composition, “Community and Continuum” at the Rose Theatre on March 22-23

By:

Johnny Knollwood

Mar 19, 2024

And they are offering a discount to New School students and community members!

Photo Courtesy of Kurt Rosenwinkel

Guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel, best known for his vast body of work and unique output is slated to return to the Rose Theatre for the first time in nearly a decade to debut his latest composition, “Community and Continuum,” on March 22-23. He will be joined by Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Orchestra for what is sure to be an unforgettable night of musical exploration.

Rosenwinkel, who has performed alongside jazz mainstays like Mark Turner, Brian Blade, and Brad Mehldau, last worked with the orchestra in 2016 and has been keen on writing for them since. “Initially I had in mind to arrange a selection of my repertoire,” Rosenwinkel told the Free Press via email. “When I found out about the theme of Jazz at Lincoln Center’s 23-24 season – ‘community’ I was inspired.” And thus, “Community and Continuum” was born. The composition is comprised of two sections, “New B Major: Community,” and “Sagrada Familia: Continuum,” which translates to “sacred family.”

The piece marks Rosenwinkel’s first foray into composing for a big band. “I found it quite exhilarating to contemplate the sonorities and orchestral possibilities,” he explained. “I found writing for a large ensemble to be a lot like mixing an album, where you are curating moments and dynamic combinations, setting up soloists and creating a fabric of sound that moves the piece forward. “

Audiences are invited to attend a pre-show lecture where Rosenwinkel will presumably discuss the work before kicking off what will surely be an incredible performance. “We can view the history of Jazz as a continuum of musicians and musical thought,” Rosenwinkel said. “And to be a part of that continuum is to belong to a sacred family, where we are all meditating upon the evolution of the art and consequently, the soul.”

Jazz at Lincoln Center has offered an exclusive 40% discount to New School students and community members. You can access them by entering the promo code: STUDENT and score your tickets here.