Titans at 100: Frost Studio Jazz Band

Bebop, blues, mambo and the American Songbook converge in a centennial tribute to five influential musicians born in 1926. Presented Tuesday, October 27, as part of Frost Music Live’s 2026-2027 season, the Frost Studio Jazz Band performs under the direction of Etienne Charles, drawing connections across the music of John Coltrane, Jimmy Heath, Carlos “Patato” Valdés, Tony Bennett and Chuck Berry.

The program spans distinctly different corners of American music, from the jazz innovations of saxophonists Coltrane and Heath to Valdés’ influential Afro-Cuban percussion, Bennett’s interpretations of popular standards and Berry’s foundational rock and roll songwriting. Bringing their legacies into a large-ensemble setting, the concert highlights the rhythmic and stylistic crosscurrents that shaped jazz and popular music across the 20th century.