Branford Marsalis and Dianne Reeves to Honor the legacy of John Coltrane at NJPAC

Published by New Jersey Stage
originally published: 11/04/2026

(NEWARK, NJ) -- New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) presents an extraordinary meeting of jazz luminaries as the Branford Marsalis Quartet joins five-time GRAMMY Award-winning vocalist Dianne Reeves on Saturday, April 10, 2027 at 8:00pm.

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.

Tickets are available for purchase online starting Friday, November 6, 2026 at 10:00am New Jersey Performing Arts Center is located at One Center Street in Newark, New Jersey.

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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.

New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), located in downtown Newark, New Jersey, is among the largest performing arts centers in the United States. It is the artistic, cultural, educational and civic center of New Jersey — where great performances and events enhance and transform lives every day. As New Jersey’s anchor cultural institution, NJPAC brings diverse communities together, providing access to all and showcasing the state’s and the world’s best artists while acting as a leading catalyst in the revitalization of its home city. Through its extensive Arts Education programs, NJPAC is shaping the next generation of artists and arts enthusiasts. NJPAC has attracted more than 12 million visitors (including more than two million children) since opening its doors in 1997 and nurtures meaningful and lasting relationships with each of its constituents.