Jazz takes center stage at Northwestern this April

Media Information

• Release Date: April 10, 2026

Media Contacts

Stephen J. Lewis

• (847) 491-0844
• Email Stephen J.

EVANSTON, Ill. --- This April, as the nation celebrates Jazz Appreciation Month, the timeless sound of jazz takes center stage at Northwestern University's Bienen School of Music. Guest artists honor a uniquely American art form that continues to inspire, innovate and bring communities together.

The Bienen School's jazz guest artist series concludes on April 25 with the Northwestern debut of trumpeter, composer and Chicago native Marquis Hill, together with his ensemble, on the heels of his March album release.

Derrick Gardner, director of Bienen's jazz studies program, calls Hill one of the most innovative jazz stylists in the world today.

"Hill embodies the legacy of the trumpet within the jazz genre and is continually pushing his creativity forward," Gardner said.

On April 27, nearly one month ahead of the centennial anniversary of trumpeter, bandleader and composer Miles Davis' birthday (May 26), Northwestern's Jazz Small Ensembles continue the jazz studies program's celebration of his legacy with a selection of his works.

The Northwestern University Jazz Orchestra welcomes guest drummer Ari Hoenig on April 30 for a program shining a spotlight on the rhythm section and Hoenig's unique approach to drumming and collaboration with his fellow performers.

Although Jazz Appreciation Month concludes at the end of April, the Bienen School offers five more jazz concerts, one honoring the music of John Coltrane, through the remainder of the spring quarter.

Tickets are available at concertsatbienen.org, by phone at 847-467-4000 or by visiting the Bienen School Ticket Office at 50 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston.

Jazz Appreciation Month program details follow:

Marquis Hill
Saturday, April 25, 7:30 p.m.
Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, 50 Arts Circle Drive

Over the course of his career, trumpeter, composer and bandleader Marquis Hill has made it his mission to break down the barriers between contemporary and classic jazz, hip-hop, R&B, Chicago house and neo-soul. Hill's latest album, "(Beautifulism) Sweet Surrender," was released on March 13. He will perform with pianist Jahari Stampley, bassist Micah Aléc Collier and drummer Corey Fonville.

Jazz Small Ensembles: The Music of Miles Davis
Monday, April 27, 8 p.m.
McClintock Choral and Recital Room, 70 Arts Circle Drive

The Bienen jazz studies program began its Miles Davis celebrations in February. As April comes to a close, the small ensembles, led by Derrick Gardner and Kevin Fort, continue the festivities with more of Davis' boundary-pushing works.

Northwestern University Jazz Orchestra
Thursday, April 30, 7:30 p.m.
Galvin Recital Hall, 70 Arts Circle Drive

The Jazz Orchestra, under the direction of Derrick Gardner, welcomes guest drummer Ari Hoenig back to campus following his appearance with Billy Childs in February 2025. The New York-based drummer, composer and educator has established a reputation for his unusual and intense approach to drumming, emphasizing complex rhythms in a direct rapport with other ensemble players.