Wynton Marsalis headlines new jazz series at Orchestra Hall

The Minnesota Orchestra will launch a new jazz series in the Orchestra Hall Atrium in December. The series, organized by Jeremy Walker, will feature all-star combinations of national and local musicians.

Walker, who ran the Bright Corners Jazz Club in St. Paul, says the atrium is a great sounding room, "somewhat surprisingly, for so much glass."

"It's such a beautiful glassed-in space. It will be interesting to see what it sounds like in there with drums," Walker said. "I think the great opportunity for us is playing without amplification, because it is a very natural sounding room. So it's a chance to hear these instruments and these musicians without the filter of speakers."

The first concert is slated for Dec. 2 and will be introduced by Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra leader Wynton Marsalis, and will feature that ensemble's horn section, backed by Walker on piano, bassist Anthony Cox and drummer J.T. Bates.

Walker will play piano at most of the shows, and says he hopes they'll attract a broad audience.

"I'd love to see people who are regular classical music audience members coming in and checking out this different kind of music. Jazz and classical are not nearly as far apart as is often percieved," he said. "I would love to see that, and the sort of long-standing jazz aficionados in town."

There will be four concerts in the first season, but Walker says he is working on a plan with the orchestra to run the concerts for five years.