Famed saxophonist appears as part of acclaimed JAZZ ROOM Series and in coordination with the exhibition Bearden/Picasso: Rhythms and Reverberations at The Mint Museum

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – March 20, 2023 – JazzArts Charlotte and The Mint Museum are proud to present THE JAZZ ROOM: An Evening with Branford Marsalis, Romare Bearden Revealed, 7 p.m. Sunday, May 14 at the Knight Theater in uptown Charlotte. Limited tickets are available starting at $30 and can be purchased at blumenthalarts.org and carolinatix.org.

This one-time, special engagement features jazz compositions from Marsalis’ 2003 album “Romare Bearden Revealed,” as well as a song written by Romare Bearden, and other jazz favorites. The concert is a collaboration between JazzArts Charlotte and The Mint Museum in coordination with the Mint’s exhibition Bearden/Picasso: Rhythms and Reverberations.

“Branford Marsalis is a jazz icon and living legend and we are beyond thrilled to have him performing as part of our long-running JAZZ ROOM series,” said Lonnie Davis, president and CEO of JazzArts Charlotte. “To produce a show that also pays tribute to Charlotte’s beloved Romare Bearden and his world-famous art contributions makes this a once-in-a-lifetime event and a special exclusive engagement for the Charlotte community.”

“The Mint Museum has been celebrating the life of artist Romare Bearden and his family for many decades. His memories from Mecklenburg Country, Pittsburgh, and Harlem are shared through his art, a love for music, and the improvisational relationship between his visual works and jazz,” said Rubie Britt-Height, director of community relations and co-leader of DEIA at The Mint Museum. ‘Bearden/Picasso: Rhythm and Reverberations’ and the ‘Romare Bearden Revealed’ collaboration is creating a transformative, historical experience for us all.”

Marsalis is a three-time Grammy Award-winning saxophonist, composer and bandleader. While best known for his jazz work and recordings with The Branford Marsalis Quintet, he has also contributed to albums by contemporary artists like Sting and The Grateful Dead, as well as jazz legends Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie. His Top-20 2003 album Romare Bearden Revealed includes guest appearances by Harry, Connick Jr., Wynton Marsalis and Doug Wamble, and was recorded as a celebration of the art of Romare Bearden.

JazzArts Charlotte’s acclaimed The Jazz Room series spotlights many of the most gifted jazz musicians from the Charlotte region and around the nation. It’s casual and intimate setting has made it a favorite of Charlotte music lovers for over ten years.

The Mint Museum’s Bearden/Picasso: Rhythms and Reverberations exhibition, on view through May 21 at Mint Museum Uptown at Levine Center for the Arts, 500 S. Tryon Street, is the first museum exhibition to examine the impact of Pablo Picasso’s rich artistic practice on Romare Bearden and his art. The exhibition is divided into four sections: bulls and bullfights; music and rhythm; doors and windows; and line and color. More information about the exhibition at mintmuseum.org.

THE JAZZ ROOM: An Evening with Branford Marsalis, Romare Bearden Revealed is presented in part by the THRIVE Fund, a component fund of the Foundation for the Carolinas.

About JazzArts Charlotte
JazzArts Charlotte is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to the promotion, education, preservation of jazz and related art forms. This organization is made up of arts patrons, educators, performing jazz artists, business leaders, and volunteers. Their mission focuses on three program development areas:  Jazz Education, Performance, and Musician Support. These three elements were established to help nurture a future audience and preserve the tradition of this great American Art Form, Jazz. For more information, visit www.thejazzarts.org and follow JazzArts Charlotte on Facebook and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/thejazzarts.

About The Mint Museum
Established in 1936 as North Carolina’s first art museum, The Mint Museum is a leading, innovative cultural institution and museum of international art and design. With two locations — Mint Museum Randolph in the heart of Eastover and Mint Museum Uptown at Levine Center for the Arts — the Mint boasts one of the largest collections in the Southeast and is committed to engaging and inspiring members of the global community.