Marking the 5th production in the Jazz at Lincoln Center PRESENTS series, guest vocalists Kate Kortum and David Marino will debut arrangements of tunes from Broadway’s most beloved productions including Hamilton, Wicked, South Pacific, West Side Story, and more in a special concert event entitled World on a String: Swinging Songs of Broadway.
For over three decades, Jazz at Lincoln Center has been a leading advocate for jazz, culture, and arts education globally. Under the direction of Wynton Marsalis, Jazz at Lincoln Center has brought the art form of jazz from the heart of New York City to over 446 cities in more than 40 countries.
The JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER PRESENTS touring initiative provides an affordable opportunity to present great jazz programming, featuring up-and-coming musicians who have been identified as rising stars by JALC. The initiative also allows for expansion of the mission of JALC "to entertain, enrich and expand a global community for jazz through performance, education, and advocacy."
TOUR
CAST
Kate Kortum
Kate Kortum is a 23-year-old breakout jazz vocalist from Houston TX. Kortum has a unique, warm sound that is unlike any else - she takes be-bop, blues, songbook, and musical theatre and combines it with captivating lyrics to make a unique experience for audiences searching for the newest jazz sound. She began her love for jazz and music at Houston's legendary High School for the Performing and Visual arts where she concentrated on her studies in flute and saxophone but ultimately fell in love with singing. Her debut album "Good Woman”, released in September 2023 on Bandstand Presents, garnered over 1 million streams just one month after release. The album, now at over 3.5 million streams, reimagines and takes back standards written by men from the perspective of women through imaginative arrangements and interpretations. Kortum is set to release her sophomore album "Wild Woman", a sequel to "Good Woman", in August of 2025. Kortum has collected an impressive number of accolades in her short career including numerous Downbeat Magazine Awards and National YoungArts awards. She has performed at many historic venues including the Newport Jazz Festival, SXSW Festival, Mezzrow, Dizzy’s, Blue Note, Birdland Jazz Club, and at Jazz At Lincoln Center with the world-renowned Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. Kortum has worked with fine musicians like Cyrille Aimée, Sheila Jordan, Peter Bernstein, Benny Benack III, and Wynton Marsalis. Kortum received her undergraduate degree in jazz voice at the University of Miami and her masters degree from the Juilliard School.
David Marino
Bistro Award winner David Marino is an internationally celebrated singer, who has performed at some of the most prestigious theatres and jazz clubs all around the world. Since debuting at the famous Birdland Jazz Club in 2024, and off the release of his EP, The Debut Sessions, David’s career has blown up. He has not only made himself a home at the legendary Birdland to glowing Broadway World reviews, but he is also touring the world performing solo shows at worldclass venues like Place des Arts in Montreal, and the Zalgiris Arena. David has also booked leading roles in hit musicals, including Les demoiselles de Rochefort, the first staged adaptation of an iconic French musical film, running in Paris for 7 shows a week at the historic Lido Theatre, where music legends like Edith Piaf and Liza Minnelli have also stepped foot. Having done already over 150 shows, and under David’s lead in the famous role of Maxence, the show has been a hit, having already sold over 110,000 tickets, with incredible reviews. Also on the musical front, in 2025, David was part of a U.S production of Sweeney Todd at Opera Maine, playing the role of Toby to critical acclaim. David is now excited to be working on several upcoming projects, including leading a 2027 U.S. Tour titled “World on a String: Swinging the Songs of Broadway” produced by world class jazz organization, Jazz at Lincoln Center, with over 50 dates already confirmed.