A Carnegie Hall initiative led by acclaimed trumpeter and composer Kris Johnson, National Youth Orchestra Jazz is a remarkable ensemble made up of the greatest young jazz musicians in the country who travel the world as cultural ambassadors, bringing the ever-youthful spirit of the music to audiences worldwide. For this exclusive performance and first Bay Area appearance, the band will be joined by GRAMMY-winning vocalist, composer, and 2017 NEA Jazz Master Dee Dee Bridgewater.
SETLIST
Little Pixie II - Thad Jones
You Can't Hide Love - Skip Scarborough (arr. Kris Johnson)
Yes or No - Wayne Shorter (arr. Kris Johnson)
Li'l Darlin' - Neal Hefti
Galapagos - Renee Rosnes (arr. Skylar Tang, commissioned by Carnegie Hall)
Strength In Numbers - Kris Johnson
In A Mellow Tone - Duke Ellington (arr. Frank Foster)
Universal Love - Jihye Lee (commissioned by Carnegie Hall)
Basin Street Blues - Spencer Williams (arr. John Clayton)
Throw It Away - Abbey Lincoln (arr. Kris Johnson)
Cotton Tail - Duke Ellington (arr. John Clayton)
Afro Blue - Mongo Santamaría (arr. John Clayton)
We're Still Here / He's Alright - Wycliffe Gordon
PERSONNEL
Kris Johnson, Bandleader and Trumpet
Dee Dee Bridgewater, Vocals
Kahlil Childs, Alto Saxophone
Michael Shebar, Alto Saxophone
Reid Justeson, Tenor Saxophone
Scotty Russell, Tenor Saxophone
Lake Muther, Baritone Saxophone
Xavier Anderson, Trumpet
Gavin Bunbury, Trumpet
Ryder Darcey, Trumpet
Miri Izenberg, Trumpet
Malcolm Clark, Trombone
Harry Hendrickson, Trombone
Dylan A. Hoon, Trombone
Danial Browne, Bass Trombone
Samuel Caiola, Piano
Maddie Johnston, Piano
Annie Meyer, Guitar
Jojo Roses, Guitar
Braxton Headley, Bass
Cadence Okuwobi, Bass
Diego Aviles-Martinez, Drums
Tonnie Kamkwalala Jr., Drums
Paul Boothe, Live Audio Engineer
Thank you to the dedicated staff of Carnegie Hall.
ABOUT NYO JAZZ
Since its debut in 2018, NYO Jazz has represented the country’s best emerging musicians, aged 16-19, who are selected through a rigorous and highly competitive audition process. The band performs an annual concert at Carnegie Hall and tours internationally, performing with the likes of Dianne Reeves, Kurt Elling, Jazzmeia Horn, Melissa Aldana, Alicia Olatuja, and Luciana Souza. They’ve released a pair of albums including Live in Johannesburg, recorded in South Africa in 2024. Under Johnson’s direction, the ensemble will perform a repertoire spanning classic works and contemporary compositions, including an arrangement by NYO Jazz and SFJAZZ High School All-Star alum Skylar Tang and a new Carnegie Hall commission by Jihye Lee, highlighting the extraordinary artistry of its members.
ABOUT DEE DEE BRIDGEWATER
Since she first gained recognition in the early 1970s with the great Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, Dee Dee Bridgewater has been a restless explorer who has collaborated with master musicians of Mali, interpreted the cabaret of Kurt Weill, and embraced the hard bop of Horace Silver. An artist devoted to education, she is the perfect guest to take the NYO Jazz ensemble to new heights.
Since its debut in 2018, NYO Jazz has represented the country’s best emerging musicians, aged 16-19, who are selected through a rigorous and highly competitive audition process. The band performs an annual concert at Carnegie Hall and tours internationally, performing with the likes of Dianne Reeves, Kurt Elling, Jazzmeia Horn, Melissa Aldana, Alicia Olatuja, and Luciana Souza. They’ve released a pair of albums including Live in Johannesburg, recorded in South Africa in 2024.
Since she first gained recognition in the early 1970s with the great Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, Dee Dee Bridgewater has been a restless explorer who has collaborated with master musicians of Mali, interpreted the cabaret of Kurt Weill, and embraced the hard bop of Horace Silver. An artist devoted to education, she is the perfect guest to take the NYO Jazz ensemble to new heights.