Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge Announces Transition of River City Jazz Masters After 20 Years
20th anniversary season celebrates two decades of world-class jazz in Baton Rouge and marks the beginning of a new chapter for jazz programming
BATON ROUGE, La. — September 25, 2026 — The 20th anniversary season of River City Jazz Masters will mark the conclusion of the series as audiences have known it for two decades. The Art Council of Greater Baton Rouge and the River City Jazz Coalition are opening what will be a landmark final season featuring four world-class concerts at the Manship Theatre, kicking off next week.
For 20 years, River City Jazz Masters has been one of Baton Rouge's great cultural traditions, presenting Grammy Award winners, NEA Jazz Masters, MacArthur Fellows, and National Medal of Arts honorees on one of the most intimate stages in the South. Past performers have included Dianne Reeves, Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Ahmad Jamal, Paquito D’Rivera, Diane Shuur, Kurt Elling, and Robert Glasper, among many others. That legacy belongs to this community.
A Celebration and a New Beginning
The conclusion of River City Jazz Masters as audiences have known it is not an ending to the Arts Council's or the Coalition’s commitment to jazz in Greater Baton Rouge. Together, they will use the foundation built over two decades to reimagine how it brings jazz and live music to the community, creating opportunities for new artists, venues, collaborations, and experiences.
The way audiences experience live music has changed and so have the possibilities for how artists and communities come together. Building on 20 years of River City Jazz Masters, the Arts Council will move toward a new model that honors the legacy this series establishes while opening the door to what comes next. Twenty years deserves more than another season. It deserves a celebration of what was built, and the beginning of what follows.
The 20th Anniversary Season
The final season of River City Jazz Masters features four concerts at the Manship Theatre, a 325-seat venue in the Shaw Center for the Arts in downtown Baton Rouge:
Alfredo Rodriguez Band ft. Pedrito Martinez — Wednesday, October 7, 2026
Grammy-nominated Cuban pianist Alfredo Rodriguez, discovered by the legendary Quincy Jones, joins master Afro-Cuban percussionist Pedrito Martinez for a powerhouse season opener.
Wendell Brunious & The New Orleans Legends — Wednesday, November 11, 2026
New Orleans trumpeter and vocalist Wendell Brunious, the first-ever musical director in Preservation Hall's history, brings the living tradition of Louisiana jazz to the Manship stage.
The Tierney Sutton Band — Thursday, January 14, 2027
Nine-time Grammy nominee Tierney Sutton, widely regarded as one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary jazz, performs in a special co-production with the Manship Theatre.
Delfeayo Marsalis & The Uptown Jazz Orchestra — Wednesday, April 7, 2027
NEA Jazz Master and Grammy winner Delfeayo Marsalis closes the final season with the full Uptown Jazz Orchestra in a celebratory New Orleans big-band finale.
Tickets
Tickets to all four concerts are on sale now. The full-season pass secures all four concerts at a savings over purchasing each show individually. Individual show tickets are also available. Arts Council members save 20% on tickets. Tickets are available at manshiptheatre.org or by calling the box office.
For season and membership information, contact the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge at (225) 344-8558 or visit artsbr.org.