The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra is the closest thing America has to an international ambassadorship of jazz. With famed trumpeter Wynton Marsalis at the helm, the group travels the world, astonishing—and educating—audiences wherever they go. In addition to playing the standards, the orchestra is actively involved in pushing the boundaries of jazz, having commissioned more than 60 new works, including many that meld American jazz with the music of other cultures.

Dec. 2, Orchestra Hall, Mpls., 612-371-5600, minnesotaorchestra.org