KNN Culture Desk | October 28, 2026
The Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra is preparing to celebrate a remarkable generation of musicians with “100 Years of Jazz Giants,” a concert scheduled for Saturday, November 7, 2026, at the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.
Honoring a musical generation
The Smithsonian’s November program calendar describes 1926 as the birth year of artists who went on to reshape jazz. The orchestra plans to honor that generation with music associated with Ray Brown, Melba Liston and Randy Weston, including “Gravy Waltz,” “The Gypsy” and “Hi Fly.”
Those selections offer listeners a window into the creative range of jazz: composition, improvisation, ensemble writing and the movement of musical ideas across generations.
When and where
The performance is listed for 7 p.m. at the Warner Bros. Theatre on the museum’s first floor. The Smithsonian lists tickets at $30 for members and $40 for nonmembers. Visitors should confirm availability with the museum before making plans.
Keeping jazz history audible
A centennial concert does more than recall familiar names. Live performance helps new audiences encounter musical works as evolving traditions rather than artifacts frozen in the past. The Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra’s program connects cultural memory with the experience of hearing this music played today.
Featured photograph is illustrative and does not depict the announced concert.
Source
Smithsonian National Museum of American History — November 2026 Events Calendar.
