A Kansas City-based quintet will honor the two influential musicians during a September performance at the Topeka Performing Arts Center.
TOPEKA, Kan. — Two of the most influential musicians in jazz history will be celebrated in Topeka during a special concert marking the 100th anniversary of their births.
The Miles Davis and John Coltrane Tribute is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27, at the Topeka Performing Arts Center, 214 SE Eighth Ave.
Presented by the Topeka Jazz Workshop, the concert will feature a quintet of Kansas City-area musicians led by bassist Kurt Morrow. The group will perform music inspired by Davis and Coltrane and explore the influence both musicians continue to have on jazz.
Davis and Coltrane were both born in 1926 and became two of the defining figures of 20th-century music.
Davis, a trumpeter, bandleader and composer, repeatedly reshaped jazz throughout his career. His work moved through bebop, cool jazz, hard bop, modal jazz and eventually jazz fusion. His landmark recordings include Kind of Blue, Bitches Brew and Sketches of Spain.
Coltrane emerged as one of the most important saxophonists of his generation. Known for his technical ability and constant musical exploration, he expanded the harmonic and spiritual possibilities of jazz through recordings including Giant Steps, My Favorite Things and A Love Supreme.
The musicians’ careers famously intersected when Coltrane joined Davis’ celebrated quintet in the 1950s. Their work together helped produce some of the most important recordings in jazz, including Davis’ 1959 album Kind of Blue.
Although their musical paths later separated, both artists continued pushing jazz in new directions. Davis became known for repeatedly reinventing his sound, while Coltrane pursued increasingly experimental and spiritually focused music.
The Topeka tribute will highlight what organizers describe as Davis’ cool, searching lyricism and Coltrane’s soaring intensity. The performance will also celebrate the sense of possibility and innovation the two musicians brought to American music.
The concert opens the Topeka Jazz Workshop’s 2026 season, which includes additional performances at TPAC throughout the fall.
Tickets are listed at $35 before online fees. Additional information and tickets are available through the Topeka Jazz Workshop and the Topeka Performing Arts Center.
