Joe Fiedler's Open Sesame

This article is about an upcoming project, product, or production.

A Swingin' Sesame Street Celebration: 50 Years & Counting is an upcoming Sesame Street concert to be held at Lincoln Center February 7 - 9, 2019.

Official description

“Sunny Days! Sesame Street comes to Jazz at Lincoln Center for a swinging celebration of Sesame’s 50th anniversary! See your favorite Sesame Street Muppet characters sing classic Sesame Street songs alongside the world-renowned Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis. This will be a fantastic celebration of Sesame Street, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and the jazz tradition—all of which have quite a lot in common.

It’s hard to imagine Sesame Street without its music, and Sesame has always featured some seriously great tunes performed by real jazz musicians (JLCO trumpeter Kenny Rampton is a longtime member of Sesame’s band). All of the jazz greats have appeared on the show over the years as well. Thanks to Sesame Street, countless children were introduced to Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Hancock, Mary Lou Williams, and many others.

Our own Wynton Marsalis even visited Sesame Street a few times, playing “C Jam Blues” with the Duck Ellington Orchestra and joining Hoots the Owl on “No Matter What Your Language (Our Music Can Be the Same).” Likewise, the JLCO has already transformed children’s songs like “Bein' Green” into big band bonanzas, and they will now present new arrangements of other Sesame Street gems.

No one is too young or too old to enjoy this playful, intelligent, and uplifting music, so come on down to our home, the House of Swing, and help us celebrate 50 years of Sesame Street.”