For this program, MJO collaborates with acclaimed pianist Ben Lewis to reimagine two of Chopin’s celebrated piano works. Chopin’s music, rich with lyrical melodies, chromatic daring, and rhythmic flexibility, has long resonated with jazz musicians. Though he never wrote jazz, his spirit of improvisation and ornamental freedom feels strikingly modern, offering fertile ground for reinterpretation.

Through contemporary, masterful treatments, Lewis and MJO recast Chopin’s musical poetry into vibrant soundscapes pulsing with a jazz heartbeat. The program also features original octet compositions by Kornegay and Gailloreto, bridging tradition and innovation in equal measure.