Lensic Presents 2023–2024 Season

José James is a jazz singer for the hip-hop generation, a title solidified with his new project, On & On: José James Sings Badu. James brings his interpretation of Erykah Badu's iconic music to the Lensic.

Recognized as one of the most unique and influential artists of our time, composer/performer Meredith Monk returns to the Lensic with two members of her renowned Vocal Ensemble, offering a rare, intimate concert reflecting six decades of innovation and awe-inspiring vocal mastery.

“Regina Carter creates music that is wonderfully listenable, probingly intelligent and, at times, breathtakingly daring…taking the listener into the future of jazz” (Time Magazine). A MacArthur Fellow and Doris Duke Artist Award recipient, Carter is jazz’s leading violinist known for seamlessly traversing jazz, R&B, Latin, classical, blues, and everything in between.

A disciple of Lionel Hampton, Milt Jackson, and Bobby Hutcherson, Stefon Harris belongs to the grand lineage of vibraphonists in jazz. With Blackout, Harris has created a "scintillating ensemble that's as versed in modern jazz as it is with rhythms, melodies, and soundscapes associated with R&B, pop, hip-hop, and funk."

With a career now blazing into its third decade, jazz bassist extraordinaire Christian McBride has become one of the most requested, most recorded, and most respected figures in the music world today. Drawing from the lexicon of his hometown, Philadelphia, McBride returns to the Lensic with a vibrant intergenerational band that will raise the roof and leave you wishing for more and more.

The Spanish Harlem Orchestra has set the gold standard for excellence in authentic, New York-style Latin jazz. Under the direction of world-renowned pianist Oscar Hernández, they are committed to the unparalleled musical experience that is the raw, organic, and vintage sound of the barrio.

At the forefront of a new generation, Mariachi Herencia de México join Grammy-winning La Santa Cecilia vocalist La Marisoul for an unforgettable night that takes mariachi to new heights.

Ryan Hamilton has won over millions of viewers with appearances on Fallon, Colbert, and Conan, and his Netflix stand-up show Happy Face has been reviewed as “the special you can’t watch enough times.”

The world’s premier Native American flutist, harp-guitarist, and worldbeat percussionist come together for a remarkable night of music spanning from soothing dreamscapes to mesmerizing trance dance grooves. .

Sitar virtuoso Anoushka Shankar “is one of our most mesmerizing live performers” (All About Jazz). The daughter and student of the legendary Ravi Shankar, she is deeply rooted in Indian classical music and has blazed a singular path that encompasses inventive arrangements, sensitive virtuosity, and a neoclassical approach.

One of America’s preeminent humor writers, David Sedaris is a master of satire. His witty, clever, sardonic, and observant books have sold over sixteen million copies and been printed in thirty-two languages. His essays have been featured in magazines including the New Yorker and Esquire, and he is a regular contributor on CBS Sunday Morning.

Named one of “12 standout companies” by the Los Angeles Times and “25 to Watch” by Dance Magazine, Jacob Jonas The Company (JJTC) has burst onto the dance scene with its fresh take on contemporary ballet, breakdancing, and acrobatic movement. From the piers of Santa Monica to the Kennedy Center, JJTC brings new light to contemporary dance.

123 Andrés will have families singing and dancing with a lively cultural exploration of Latin America. Deemed “a rockstar for little language learners” by Billboard, the Latin Grammy-winning husband-and-wife duo pack a high-energy punch with catchy songs in Spanish and English.

Ryan Adams has been praised as "one of rock's most talented songwriters" (SPIN). This tour features Ryan, his guitars, and a piano in an acoustic tour-de-force, playing songs across his awe-inspiring catalog.

Kings Return’s tagline is simple: “We sing in stairwells.” The unique, harmonizing group turned internet sensation captures the essence of an old-school a cappella quartet with sounds inspired by gospel and R&B, and has a reputation for performing diverse arrangements, including those from their joyous 2021 Christmas release.

The holidays truly become a family affair when married duo Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy—two of the globe's best and brightest fiddle players—invite their children onstage for an unforgettable night of holiday fun.

Ring out 2023 with a holiday tradition that keeps getting better every year. Santa Fe’s own Joe Illick brings his all-star orchestra to ring in the new year with soloist Augustin Hadelich.

The Peking Acrobats defy gravity with amazing displays of contortion, flexibility, and control. Accompanied by live musicians, they perform awe-inspiring acrobatic feats with high-tech special effects that have astounded audiences for generations.

Terence Blanchard and his acclaimed collaborators pay tribute to iconic jazz composer Wayne Shorter. Blanchard reimagines songs from across and inspired by Shorter's adventurous catalog, resulting in what the New Yorker called “a lush and dramatic soundscape that calls to mind Blanchard’s career as a successful film composer.”

Judith Hill has been praised by Rolling Stone for her “stellar powerhouse vocals.” Her music is rich in throwback soul, stunning piano balladry, and swaggering psychedelic funk.

Grief, by Tony Award-nominated choreographer Donald Byrd, is a profound new production that looks white supremacy straight in the eye. Known for his socially challenging work, Tony Award-nominated choreographer Donald Byrd’s
Grief explores the experiences of Mamie Till-Mobley after the 1955 murder of her son, Emmett Till.

Based on E.B. White's loving story, Charlotte’s Web is the treasured tale of a friendship between a pig named Wilbur and a little gray spider named Charlotte. To avoid his imminent fate, Wilber relies on his dear spider friend Charlotte to create a miracle. Spinning the words, “Some Pig” into her web Charlotte instigates a series of events that save Wilbur and ensure his place on the farm forever.

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with the hottest Irish acoustic group on the planet, Lúnasa. Returning by popular demand for the second year in a row, this “Irish music dream team” (Folk Roots) sold out their show last season—so get your tickets early!

ABT Studio Company is the junior company of American Ballet Theatre comprised of rising stars who will become the iconic dancers of tomorrow (alumni include Misty Copeland, David Hallberg, and Isabella Boylston). ABTSC’s program includes masterworks of classical and neoclassical ballet.

Combining highly physical, large-scale drumming with contemporary costumes, precise choreography, and innovative visuals, the performers of Drum Tao deliver an edge-of-your-seat, tour-de-force evening of strength and driving rhythms.