The orchestra is part of Jazz at Lincoln Center, a performing arts organization in New York City.
In 1988, the orchestra was formed as an outgrowth of its concert series, Classical Jazz, with David Berger conducting.
When Wynton Marsalis became artistic director in 1991, he emphasized the history of jazz, particularly Duke Ellington.
The orchestra backed Wynton Marsalis on his album Blood on the Fields, which won the Pulitzer Prize.
[1][2][3] Since 2015, the orchestra's albums have been issued on its own label, Blue Engine Records.