Vocalist

What does it mean to be an American today? That is the question posed by the curator, pianist and producer Lara Downes in Declaration: Songs of Democracy, Voices of Hope, featuring world premieres by three major composers. Valerie Coleman presents Life, a work for solo piano; Arturo O'Farrill offers the Liberty; and Christopher Tin closes with The Pursuit of Happiness. These latter two compositions are performed by the American Composers Orchestra, under the baton of Eric Jacobsen, with the aid of a select collective of artists and bands who represent a wide range of the American experience. Guests will include jazz bassist Christian McBride, vocalists Kurt Elling and Aoife O’Donovan, and more to be announced.

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Declaration: Songs of Democracy, Voices of Hope

Lincoln Center

Grammy Award-winning vocalist Kurt Elling and guitarist virtuoso Charlie Hunter join forces to perform new songs, standards from the Great American Songbook, and dynamic reinventions.

Two-time Grammy Award-winner Elling is renowned for a signature, rich sound, and an inventive and individualized body of work. With a one-of-a kind brand of contemporary beat lyricism and vocalese-writing ingenuity, the Chicago-based musician has extended the parameters of vocal jazz and enlarged its vocabulary. The New York Times called him “the standout male jazz vocalist of our time” and The Guardian (UK) pronounced him “a kind of Sinatra with superpowers.”

SuperBlue: Kurt Elling & Charlie Hunter

The Royal Conservatory of Music

Two-time Grammy Award winner Kurt Elling brings his one-of-a-kind beat lyricism and vocalese-writing ingenuity to Strathmore, along with a big band made up of musicians from the DMV. Called “the standout male jazz vocalist of our time” by The New York Times, the Chicago-based musician has expanded the parameters of vocal jazz. Over a 25-year career of touring and recording, Elling has won three Prix du Jazz Vocal (France), two German Echo Awards, two Dutch Edison Awards, and has been nominated for a Grammy Award sixteen times. His fantastic work has only grown more ambitious and experimental with the passing of time, including his stunning new LP, SuperBlue: The Iridescent Spree.

Kurt Elling: In The Brass Palace

The Music Center at Strathmore

Kurt Elling & Yellowjackets’ Celebrate Weather Report is a thrilling collaboration between two jazz powerhouses, blending the iconic music of Weather Report with bold reinterpretations and original artistry.

Grammy-winning vocalist Kurt Elling, known for his captivating baritone and improvisational brilliance, joins forces with Yellowjackets, jazz fusion legends redefining the genre for over four decades.

Kurt Elling & Yellowjackets

Cadogan Hall 

Kurt Elling & Yellowjackets pay tribute to Weather Report in an exciting collaboration between jazz giants. Together, they present personal and innovative interpretations of Weather Report’s iconic music and groundbreaking songs.

Blue House Jazz – Kurt Elling & Yellowjackets

Konserthuset Stockholm

More than jazz’s renaissance man, vocalist Kurt Elling is a rising tide of creativity, elevating the jazz scene writ large with a steady flow of projects, recordings and endeavors. This 2025-26 Season performance will focus on the timeless songs from his recent EP Wildflowers Vol. 2, joined in duo by virtuoso pianist Christian Sands.

Wildflowers: Kurt Elling

SFJAZZ Center

Kurt Elling is undeniably among the most incredible and influential jazz vocalists of our time. His 2024 Wildflowers recording projects featuring performances with solo piano—first with Sullivan Fortner and then with Joey Calderazzo—were impromptu and near-instantaneous sessions. Those recordings bring Elling’s expressiveness to the fore beautifully. A third Wildflowers volume is in the offing, and Elling headlines Club Hancher for a concert featuring Christian Sands on piano in support of the release of the third volume of Wildflowers.

Kurt Elling with Christian Sands

University of Iowa

### Event Description: Kurt Elling Celebrates Weather Report featuring Peter Erskine

**Date and Time:** Friday, April 11, 2025, at 7:30 PM  
**Venue:** Michigan Theater, 603 East Liberty Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104

Join us for an extraordinary evening as the University Musical Society (UMS) presents "Kurt Elling Celebrates Weather Report," featuring the legendary drummer Peter Erskine. This special performance will take place at the historic Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor.

**About the Event:**
The New York Times has hailed Kurt Elling as the standout male jazz vocalist of our time. Known for his robust swing and poetic insight, the two-time Grammy winner brings his unique brand of contemporary lyricism and vocal ingenuity to this celebration of Weather Report, one of jazz’s great supergroups from the 1970s and early 80s. Elling's warm, rich baritone and his four-octave range make him a virtuoso improviser and compelling storyteller.

This concert will reimagine Weather Report's iconic songs and introduce new arrangements inspired by the band's constellation of musicians. The program will include classics such as "A Remark You Made," "Three Views of a Secret," and "Continuum," among other influential compositions from the Weather Report repertoire.

**Featured Artists:**
- **Kurt Elling** - Vocals
- **Peter Erskine** - Drums (Weather Report alumnus and Grammy Award winner)
- **Joey Calderazzo** - Piano
- **Mike Moreno** - Guitars
- **Essiet Okon Essiet** - Bass

**Ticket Information:**
- **Season Ticket Packages:** Available now
- **Individual Event Tickets:** On sale starting August 1
- **Box Office:** Call 734-764-2538 for tickets and inquiries
- **Discounts:** Student, senior, and group discounts may be available

**Sponsors:**
- **Title Sponsor:** Dick Caldarazzo and Eileen Weiser
- **Supporting Sponsor:** Tim and Robin Damschroder

Don't miss this unique opportunity to experience the magic of Kurt Elling and Peter Erskine as they pay tribute to the legendary Weather Report. Secure your tickets early and be part of an unforgettable night of jazz excellence.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the UMS website or contact the box office.

Kurt Elling Celebrates Weather Report

Michigan Theater

Kurt Elling Celebrates Weather Report with Special Guest Peter Erskine Featuring Yellowjackets

Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts

L.A.’s own Yellowjackets, boasting four decades of musical excellence, will headline and open this double-billing featuring two debuts!. Kurt Elling “The standout male vocalist of our time” (-The New York Times), reimagines Weather Report tunes with original band member Peter Erskine. Highlighting compositions by Wayne Shorter, Weather Report stands as the quintessential modern jazz group of the 1970s and 1980s.

Kurt Elling Celebrates Weather Report With Special Guest, Peter Erskine & The Yellowjackets

Soka Performing Arts Center

Kurt Elling is a two-time GRAMMY Award winner who is renowned for a signature, rich sound and an inventive and individualized body of work. With a one-of-a kind brand of contemporary beat lyricism and vocalese-writing ingenuity, the Chicago-based musician has extended the parameters of vocal jazz and enlarged its vocabulary. The New York Times called Kurt Elling “the standout male jazz vocalist of our time.” The Guardian (UK) pronounced him “a kind of Sinatra with superpowers. Read More

Fox Tucson Theatre

Kurt Elling is a two-time Grammy Award winner who is renowned for a signature, rich sound and an inventive and individualized body of work. With a one-of-a-kind brand of contemporary beat lyricism and vocalese-writing ingenuity, the Chicago-based musician has extended the parameters of vocal jazz and enlarged its vocabulary. The New York Times called Kurt Elling “the standout male jazz vocalist of our time.” The Guardian (UK) pronounced him “a kind of Sinatra with superpowers.”

Kurt Elling w/ Joey Calderazzo

Dakota

GRAMMY-winning jazz vocalist Kurt Elling and hybrid guitarist Charlie Hunter combine for a kaleidoscopic collection of new songs, surprising covers, and dynamic reinventions. Elling is without question today’s preeminent male jazz vocalist, renowned worldwide for his unparalleled virtuosity and flair for trailblazing artistic exploration. From his stunning reinvention of timeless standards to his own captivating original songcraft, the Chicago-based musician has fused his dazzling talents across a panoply of musical approaches, emblazoning each with signature imagination, insight, and emotional intelligence.

Groton Hill Music Center

On his Grammy-nominated 2018 album The Questions, acclaimed vocalist Kurt Elling confronted the whirlwind of uncertainty that threatens modern life by musing on the timeless yet ever-timely issues confronting humanity. With his much-anticipated 2020 follow-up, Secrets Are the Best Stories, Elling searches deeper into those profound questions with the help of renowned pianist Danilo Pérez, whose own work has long embraced a global vision of unity and acceptance.

Kurt Elling / Danilo Pérez Duo

Ravinia Festival

Saxophonist Branford Marsalis is one of the most influential and revered figures in contemporary music. The NEA Jazz Master, Grammy Award winner, and Tony Award nominee is equally at home performing concertos with symphony orchestras and sitting in with members of the Grateful Dead, but the core of his musical universe remains the Branford Marsalis Quartet. After more than three decades of existence with minimal personnel changes, this celebrated ensemble is revered for its uncompromising interpretation of a kaleidoscopic range of both original compositions and jazz and popular classics. After the Grammy‐nominated Upward Spiral, on which guest vocalist Kurt Elling was seamlessly integrated into the group, the Quartet has followed up with the Grammy‐nominated The Secret Between the Shadow and the Soul, its most emotionally wide‐ranging and melody-driven collection to date. John Zeugner captured the impact of the Quartet in live performance in a recent concert review, calling it “casually confident, professional, cerebral, and supercharged with energy. The Branford Marsalis Quartet . . . was all of those adjectives and more.”

An Evening with Branford Marsalis

Krannert Center for the Performing Arts

Experience the magic of jazz at its finest with the Monterey Jazz Festival On Tour, featuring an ensemble of jazz luminaries including Dee Dee Bridgewater, Kurt Elling, Lakecia Benjamin, Christian Sands, Yasushi Nakamura, and Clarence Penn. This special event is set to take place on Thursday, April 20, 2023, at 8:00 PM at The Music Center at Strathmore.

Celebrating its 65th anniversary, the Monterey Jazz Festival is one of the jazz world's most enduring and essential institutions. The tour brings together an unparalleled lineup of talent, with NEA Jazz Master, Grammy and Tony Award-winner Dee Dee Bridgewater and Grammy winner Kurt Elling leading the charge. Under the musical direction of five-time Grammy nominee Christian Sands, this ensemble promises an unforgettable evening of jazz excellence.

The performance will showcase the artistry of 2020’s DownBeat Critics Poll Rising Star Alto Saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin, alongside the dynamic rhythm section of bassist Yasushi Nakamura and drummer Clarence Penn. This event is not just a concert but a celebration of jazz's rich history and its vibrant future.

Co-presented with Strathmore, the Monterey Jazz Festival On Tour is a highlight of Washington Performing Arts’s The World in Our City initiative, promoting cross-cultural understanding and cultural diplomacy. Don't miss this opportunity to savor the world-renowned sound of the Monterey Jazz Festival right here in the DMV.

Monterey Jazz Festival On Tour

One of the jazz world’s longest-running and most-iconic events, the Monterey Jazz Festival celebrates its 65th year with a must-hear once-in-a-lifetime ensemble. Featuring Tony- and Grammy Award-winning NEA Jazz Master vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater alongside Grammy Award-winning vocalist Kurt Elling and critically acclaimed rising-star saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin, this stellar band will be directed by visionary pianist Christian Sands and anchored by his longtime rhythm section, bassist Yasushi Nakamura and drummer Clarence Penn.

Walt Disney Concert Hall

For 65 years, the Monterey Jazz Festival has played host to the greatest names in jazz. Now hear a collection of outstanding jazz stars in one performance as the Monterey Jazz Festival goes on tour.

McCallum Theatre

The illustrious Monterey Jazz Festival once again sends six of its finest jazz ambassadors to Berkeley as part of its popular touring program. Multiple-Grammy-winning vocalists Dee Dee Bridgewater, among the “best-rounded and unique jazz vocalists singing today” (All About Jazz), and Kurt Elling, “the standout male jazz vocalist of our time” (The New York Times), scat, swoon, and soar as they bring swing standards, moody ballads, bop favorites, and Latin hits to life. The hard-swinging band is led by pianist Christian Sands, with rising-star saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin (Missy Elliott, Alicia Keys), and the well-oiled rhythm section of bassist Yasushi Nakamura (Wynton Marsalis, Hank Jones) and drummer Clarence Penn (Betty Carter, Maria Schneider).

Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour

University of California, Berkeley

The 8-voice, all-male, a cappella ensemble Cantus is known for its trademark warmth and blend, innovative programming and riveting performances.

Cantus

Seventh-day Adventist Church

Modern jazz giants Kurt Elling and The Yellowjackets make their joint debut on the Miner Auditorium stage in tribute to the groundbreaking fusion of Joe Zawinul and Wayne Shorter’s Weather Report.

Kurt Elling & The Yellowjackets

The world's number one jazz singer and one of the most famous bands on the jazz-fusion scene celebrate together at the Roma Jazz Festival the music of Weather Report, a legendary group that profoundly renewed the way of making and listening to jazz .

Vocalist

Kurt Elling

Events

Upcoming events

8 - 9 Oct, 2026

Kurt Elling & The Yellowjackets · San Francisco Jazz

Nov 4, 2026

Kurt Elling & Yellowjackets – “Celebrate Weather Report” · Auditorium Parco della Musica Ennio Morricone

Past events

Jul 1, 2026

Declaration: Songs of Democracy, Voices of Hope · American Composers Orchestra

Mar 28, 2026

SuperBlue: Kurt Elling & Charlie Hunter · The Royal Conservatory of Music

Future and recently performed repertoire

Vocals in Elegant People by Shorter

Konserthuset Stockholm

Vocals in The Fanfold by Pastorius

Konserthuset Stockholm

Vocals in Hawk for Franz Wright by Pastorius

Konserthuset Stockholm

Vocals in A Secret in Three Views by Pastorius

Konserthuset Stockholm

Vocals in Night Passage by Ferrante

Konserthuset Stockholm

Vocals in Downtown by Zawinul

Konserthuset Stockholm

Vocals in Current Affairs by Shorter

Konserthuset Stockholm

Vocals in Palladíum by Zawinul

Konserthuset Stockholm

Vocals in A Remark You Made by Shorter

Konserthuset Stockholm

About

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