Two NEA Jazz Masters unite for an evening inspired by the landmark recording John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman
Saturday, April 10, 2027 at 8:00 p.m.
Tickets go on sale Friday, November 6, 2026 at 10:00 a.m.
Honoring the centennial legacy of John Coltrane, this distinguished collaboration celebrates the lyrical beauty, emotional depth and enduring artistry of his seminal 1963 recording, John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman.
A touchstone of the jazz repertoire, the album paired Coltrane’s searching tenor saxophone with Hartman’s sumptuous baritone, creating an intimate musical dialogue that remains a benchmark for the interpretation of the American songbook. Marsalis and Reeves bring their own interpretive authority to this repertoire, illuminating its elegance while opening new possibilities for expression.
Branford Marsalis, a three-time GRAMMY Award winner and NEA Jazz Master, has shaped contemporary music across more than four decades as a saxophonist, composer, bandleader and educator. His achievements extend from the concert stage to Broadway and film, earning Tony and Primetime Emmy nominations. His screen compositions include scores for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Rustin and Tulsa Burning: The 1921 Race Massacre.
Founded in 1986, his quartet is celebrated for its remarkable ensemble rapport, rhythmic sophistication and adventurous approach to both original compositions and the jazz canon.
Dianne Reeves, also an NEA Jazz Master, ranks among the foremost vocal artists of her generation. Her five GRAMMY Awards include recognition for the soundtrack to George Clooney’s Good Night, and Good Luck, in which she also appeared. The inaugural Creative Chair for Jazz of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Reeves has performed with the Berlin Philharmonic under Sir Simon Rattle and recorded with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under Daniel Barenboim. She holds honorary doctorates from Berklee College of Music and The Juilliard School. Her extraordinary command of phrasing, improvisation and musical storytelling gives each performance a singular expressive power.
Together, Marsalis, Reeves and the quartet offer a compelling encounter between instrumental and vocal mastery—an evening that honors Coltrane’s profound contribution to American music through the imagination and artistry of two of its most distinguished living interpreters.
Tickets went on sale Friday, November 6, 2026. Visit njpac.org for tickets and information.
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Branford Marsalis Quartet, Dianne Reeves Take Over NJPAC on Saturday, April 10, 2027