KestheBand headlines jazz festival at Lincoln Center
Published:Tuesday | December 9, 2025 | 12:08 AM
Trinidad and Tobago’s KestheBand, featuring Etienne Charles, will headline the third annual Unity Jazz Festival at Lincoln Center. A celebration dedicated to musical community, global connections through jazz, and cross-cultural storytelling, the event takes place January 8–9, 2026 at the iconic Frederick P. Rose Hall, also known as The House of Swing.
This year’s festival embraces the organisation’s 38th Season Mother Africa, a recognition of the worldwide influence of Afro-American and African diaspora music traditions, as well as Africa’s lasting imprint on jazz.
Known for electrifying performances and boundary-breaking sound, KestheBand will bring its signature blend of soca, soul, calypso, and island pop to the Jazz at Lincoln Center (JALC) stage.
“Caribbean music has always been a voice of resilience, rhythm, and unity, and stages like Jazz at Lincoln Center give us the chance to share that unique voice with the world,” said Kees Dieffenthaller, lead vocalist of KestheBand. “Headlining Jazz at Lincoln Center’s United Jazz Festival is a dream come true for us – we feel so aligned in a bigger purpose.”
The headlining performance is at the epicentre of the legendary group’s 20th anniversary celebrations, along with additional new music set to roll out in early 2026. The history-making début will see the band’s first-ever stripped-down performances, featuring two intimate sets that feature reimagined arrangements of their music alongside special guest collaborations – including acclaimed Trinidadian trumpeter Etienne Charles.
Bringing production support to Kes’ headlining performance, Charles will infuse the concerts with his signature blend of Afro-Caribbean storytelling and musical craftsmanship. Kes’ Unity Jazz Festival performance arrives just ahead of the band’s highly anticipated new single, Rum And Coca Cola, along with additional new music set to roll out in early 2026.
CONTINUING THE CREATIVE JOURNEY
“Looking forward to bringing Creole Soul to The House of Swing and being a part of Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Unity Jazz Festival,” said Etienne Charles. “I couldn’t be more excited to reunite with my brother Kes and continue the creative journey we’ve shared for years.”
KestheBand has also taken an active role in Caribbean relief efforts, following the devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa on Jamaica. The group continues to support fundraising efforts for affected communities, such as the Jamaica Strong Benefit Concert with celebrities including Shaggy and Inner Circle – continuing their long-standing commitment to uplifting the wider Caribbean family.
“It’s a timely moment for Caribbean culture to stand proudly on the global stage and remind everyone of the shared roots that connect us,” he said.
For more than three decades, Jazz at Lincoln Center has been a pillar of artistic expression, uniting musicians, fans, students, and educators across cultures and perspectives. Unity Jazz Festival invites audiences to experience a carefully curated programme that fosters creative exchange and celebrates the dynamic future of jazz.
Unity Jazz Festival showcases an exciting line-up of more than 20 acclaimed acts and emerging artistes across five stages. With performances celebrating the legacy of legendary Eddie Palmieri, along with a first-time JALC performance by DJ Logic, and sets featuring Tomeka Reid, Veronica Swift, Erena Terakubo, Gabriel Chakarji, Rajna Swaminathan. Unity Festival proudly presents the first Jazz Legacies Fellowship Honors All-Star Concert, spotlighting over 17 masters of the music: Valerie Capers, Amina Claudine Myers, George Coleman, Akua Dixon, Tom Harrell, Billy Hart, Bertha Hope, Roger Humphries, Carmen Lundy, Roscoe Mitchell, Johnny O’Neal, Shannon Powell, Julian Priester, Herlin Riley, Michele Rosewoman, Dom Salvador and Reggie Workman.