Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis

The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis is one of those rare live music events that earns its price tag. Founded in 1988 and based in New York, the JLCO is widely regarded as the foremost large jazz ensemble touring today - a 15-piece orchestra that plays everything from rare historic compositions to new works commissioned specifically for the group. Wynton Marsalis, the legendary trumpeter and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer who has led the orchestra since its founding, is still very much the beating heart of the show. This is a night for serious jazz lovers, but the sheer energy and precision of the performance tends to win over anyone who shows up curious.

What to expect

Expect a full orchestra experience in one of Ireland’s best concert halls. The JLCO typically moves through a wide programme in a single evening - swing, bebop, blues, and original composition woven together into something that feels both celebratory and educational without ever being dry. Marsalis has a way of talking the audience through what they are hearing between pieces; there is context given, but lightly, never like a lecture. The band’s collective musicianship is extraordinary - each player has their own voice, and the ensemble passages hit with a force that a small group simply cannot replicate. University Concert Hall is a 1,038-seat venue with good sightlines and strong acoustics, so even seats further back hold up well for an orchestral jazz show.

Getting there

University Concert Hall sits on the University of Limerick campus, roughly 4km from Limerick city centre along the Dublin Road (N7/R445). By car, take the R445 out from the city, turn at Parkway Roundabout, then follow UL signs from Groody Roundabout. Parking on campus is free for evening events - the Foundation Building car park in front of the venue raises its barriers from 9:30pm for 8pm performances, so there is no charge for attendees. Overflow car parks sit one and five minutes on foot from the main entrance. By bus, routes 304 and 304A run from Lower William Street in the city centre to campus roughly every 30 minutes. If you are coming from further afield, Colbert Station in Limerick city centre is on the Irish Rail network, with connections from Dublin Heuston (about two and a half hours), Cork and Ennis. A taxi from the city centre runs around €18-20; pre-booking the return journey is recommended as there is no dedicated rank directly outside the hall.

While you’re in Limerick

Limerick city has genuine character - the King John’s Castle on the Shannon, the Hunt Museum, and a restaurant scene that has improved considerably in recent years make it worth arriving a few hours early. There is more to see in Limerick and across Co. Limerick.

Good to know

• Date: Friday 14 August 2026
• Time: 8:00pm
• Venue: University Concert Hall, University of Limerick
• Tickets: from €82.50
• Book at uch.ie - book early, this sells out
• Wheelchair spaces and an induction loop system are available; wheelchair bookings must be made by phone to the box office