This October, and the world-renowned Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis (JLCO) will make a landmark visit to Ghana as part of their first-ever African tour.

From October 8 to 12, 2025, Accra will welcome one of the most celebrated jazz ensembles and acclaimed trumpeters to the nation’s premier live music destination, +233 Jazz Bar & Grill, for two unforgettable nights of music on October 10th and 11th.

The Accra gigs form part of a historic four-nation African tour being undertaken by Marsalis and the JLCO from September 26 to October 11 this year. Other countries being covered by the tour are South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria. The tour is the first time the JLCO is embarking on such a project in its 38-year history.

American trumpeter, composer, teacher and music director Marsalis is from a family of musicians widely hailed as the First Family of Jazz. He has been variously described as a technical genius with a beautiful sound, good range, superb articulation, brilliant control, a perfect ear and complete intellectual grasp of whatever music he is playing.

The JLCO is made of brilliant ensemble players, unique soloists, composers, arrangers and educators. Under Marsalis’ leadership, the Orchestra performs a vast repertoire  that embraces rare historic compositions to newly-commissioned works, expanding the language of jazz while honouring its traditions.

Guests to be featured on the Orchestra’s African tour include drummer Herlin Riley, percussionist Weedie Braimah and vocalist Shenel Johns. They are exceptional artistes in their own right, expected to add extra shine to the concerts. 

Africa is generally acknowledged as the source of all Jazz. The idea of African heritage has bolstered creativity in many Jazz performers at different times. An important element on the tour will be a performance of a new Marsalis composition titled ‘Afro!’ that intricately explores the links between Jazz, the African continent and its diaspora.

Apart from the concerts, the Ghana visit will include educational engagements with local students and musicians to further cement the JLCO’s mission to inspire Jazz appreciation across all ages wherever they go.

The Accra concerts will be hosted by the Ghana Jazz Foundation and the +233 Jazz Bar and Grill. The Ghana Jazz Foundation is a non-profit organization that promotes Jazz music and other local art forms through collaborations, educational programmes and support for musicians and live music venues.

+233, Ghana’s premier live music venue, is a vital hub for Jazz and world music lovers, and has hosted prominent musicians from many different parts of the globe.