Wynton Marsalis Septet
Trumpeter, composer, and 2011 NEA Jazz Master Wynton Marsalis brings his iconic Septet to SFJAZZ for four performances over two nights as part of the 2026 Summer Sessions. This marks a significant moment as Marsalis recently announced his departure from his leadership position at Jazz at Lincoln Center after nearly 40 years.
The most acclaimed jazz musician alive today, Marsalis has amassed nine GRAMMYs and the Pulitzer Prize for Music for Blood on the Fields — the first ever awarded to a jazz artist. His Septet represents his most enduring creative outlet, yielding masterful albums including Blue Interlude (1992), Citi Movement (1993), Mr. Jelly Lord (1999), and Here...Now (2007).
Expect an evening of swinging jazz standards, blues, and Marsalis originals performed with the precision and soul that has defined his career since his fiery debut with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. The septet format allows Marsalis to showcase his virtuosic trumpet playing in ways that the big band setting doesn't permit — each solo becomes "a micro-adventure," as one reviewer noted, filled with "sculptural filigree and timbral twists."
The current lineup features pianist Dan Nimmer, trombonist Chris Crenshaw, bassist Carlos Henriquez, drummer Jason Marsalis, alto saxophonist Alexa Tarantino, and multi-instrumentalist Chris Lewis on tenor sax, alto sax, clarinet, and flute. Drawing from the core of the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, this ensemble brings both the intimacy of a small group and the sophisticated arrangements that have made Marsalis a towering figure in jazz.
Marsalis infuses his performances with reverence for jazz tradition while making deeply personal music. His stage presence combines masterful musicianship with warm storytelling — sharing anecdotes about jazz legends and dedicating songs to those who've influenced his journey. As one audience member described after a recent Septet performance: the entire experience "connected the musicians now leaving the stage with the spirit of legendary jazzmen... Duke, Monk and Miles; Dizzy, Bird and Pops."
This appearance follows Marsalis's acclaimed performance of his score for the silent Louis Armstrong biopic Louis during SFJAZZ's 2025-26 Season, making his return with the Septet all the more anticipated.