Penn Live Arts debut of bassist Endea Owens and her jazz, soul and funk ensemble The Cookout at the Zellerbach Theatre.
Endea Owens & The Cookout play the Zellerbach Theatre on Thursday, March 18, 2027, at 7 PM. It's her Penn Live Arts debut, and she's bringing her full ensemble with her. The set blends jazz, soul, and funk, and it's part of the Penn Live Arts 26/27 season, with media support from WRTI 90.1 fm.
Owens is a bassist and one of the most vibrant emerging artists in jazz. She's a Juilliard graduate who played in the house band of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and she's picked up an Emmy, a Grammy, and a George Foster Peabody along the way. Her credits read like a who's who of the scene: she's collaborated with Wynton Marsalis, Jazzmeia Horn, Jon Batiste, and Dee Dee Bridgewater. The Cookout is her high-octane ensemble, and they're the ones who pull that jazz-soul-funk mix together on stage.
Critics have described the performances as "literally sparkling," with "masterful playing and exuberant charm," according to NPR. That gives you a good sense of what to expect—this isn't a sit-back-and-listen kind of jazz set; it's built for the room. The show is presented by Penn Live Arts as part of the Penn Performing Arts Initiative, and it's Owens' first time playing for them.
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It all goes down at the Zellerbach Theatre in Philadelphia on Thursday, March 18, 2027, starting at 7 PM. If you've been following her work with other artists, this is a chance to hear her lead her own band.
