Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra to compose new work honoring 15 KU icons

LAWRENCE (KSNT) – The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (JLCO) with Wynton Marsalis will be composing a new 15 movement suite to honor big figures throughout KU’s history of academics and athletics.

The “Wave the Wheat Suite” will be the second work that the Lied Center has commissioned from the JLCO. Their first work, “Rock Chalk Suite,” honored 15 KU basketball legends, and it was the first time the JLCO was commissioned to create new music as a collective.

The 15 new honorees are:

• Ochai Agbaji (men’s basketball); movement composed by Abdias Armenteros; sponsored by Jon & Vicki Jamison.
• Jim Bausch (men’s track & field, football); movement composed by Marcus Printup; sponsored by an anonymous donor in honor of Tom Rupp.
• Ray Evans (football, basketball); movement composed by Victor Goines; sponsored by Janis Bulgren.
• Barney Graham (vaccine pioneer, immunologist, virologist and clinical-trials physician); movement composed by Alexa Tarantino; sponsored by KU’s Office of the Chancellor.
• John Hadl (football); movement composed by Paul Nedzela; sponsored by Steve & Chris Edmonds.
• Ainise Havili & Kelsie Payne (volleyball); movement composed by Dan Nimmer and arranged by Sherman Irby; sponsored by Martha Gage in honor of Ralph Gage.
• Frank Mason III (men’s basketball); movement composed by Elliot Mason; sponsored by Dr. Larry Weeda Jr. & Sharon L. Polk.
• John McLendon (men’s basketball coach, Naismith Hall of Famer, inventor of the fast break); movement composed by Vincent Gardner; sponsored by John & Rosy Elmore.
• Billy Mills (men’s track & field); movement composed by Kenny Rampton; sponsored by Dave & Libby Domann.
• Al Oerter (men’s track & field); movement composed by Chris Crenshaw; sponsored by Bill & Marlene Penny.
• Loral O’Hara (NASA astronaut); movement composed by Sherman Irby; sponsored by Dr. Jim & Vickie Otten.
• Juan Manuel Santos (former President of Colombia, Nobel Peace Prize winner); movement composed by Carlos Henriquez; sponsored by Jeff & Mary Weinberg.
• Gale Sayers (football); movement composed by Wynton Marsalis; sponsored by Beverly Smith Billings in honor of Bob Billings.
• Marilynn Smith (women’s golf); movement composed by Obed Calvaire; sponsored by an anonymous donor in honor of Sue Mango.
• Marian Washington (women’s basketball coach); movement composed by Chris Lewis; sponsored by Miles & Paula Schnaer.

The JLCO is led by nine-time Grammy-winner Wynton Marsalis, and the group is comprised of 15 of the finest jazz soloists and ensemble players today. They’ve been the resident orchestra of jazz at the Lincoln Center in New York City since 1988.

“We are so excited to build upon the incredible success of ‘Rock Chalk Suite’ with another musical work celebrating 15 KU luminaries in collaboration with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis,” said Lied Center Executive Director Derek Kwan. “The best part of the project is that sponsorship proceeds will establish an endowed fund to cover bus costs for Lawrence Public School students to attend age-specific performances annually at the Lied Center for free, in perpetuity—something that is truly unique to our community.”

The “Wave the Wheat Suite” will be premiered at the Lied center at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 6. Tickets can be purchased online on the Lied Center’s website, or in person at the Lied Center Ticket Office. Prices range from $19 to $55 before taxes and fees. The Lied Center is located at 1600 Stewart Dr, Lawrence, KS 66045.

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