Spoken word artist J. Ivy will give the inaugural performance at the new UCLA Nimoy Theater on Sept. 23. (photo by Cam Be)

UCLA’s Center for the Art of Performance has announced its 2023-24 season, which opens with a weekend of virtuosic stars and genre-blending collaborations between jazz legends Dee Dee Bridgewater and Bill Charlap on Friday, Sept. 22 at 8 p.m. in Royce Hall, followed by the inaugural performance at the new UCLA Nimoy Theater by Grammy-winning spoken word artist J. Ivy on Saturday, Sept. 23, at 8 p.m.

Vocalist Bridgewater and pianist Charlap will draw on the canons of luminary composers such as Duke Ellington, Cole Porter, Thelonious Monk and others to craft a masterful performance with captivating storytelling. The Grammy and Tony Award-winning Bridgewater has had a remarkable career spanning four decades. She started as a member of the legendary Thad Jones/Mel Louis Big Band and later performed with Max Roach, Sonny Rollins, Dexter Gordon and Dizzy Gillespie.

Charlap is renowned for his performances with artists like Phil Woods, Benny Carter, Gerry Mulligan and Wynton Marsalis. He is known for interpretations of the American popular songbook, having recorded albums featuring works by Hoagy Carmichael, Leonard Bernstein and George Gershwin. Since 1997, Charlap has been joined by bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington.

Grammy Award-winning poet, spoken word artist, actor and songwriter J. Ivy opens the CAP UCLA season at The Nimoy with his singular style of performance poetry. He will be joined on stage by singer Tarrey Torae as part of the first installment of Poetry Uncut, a four-part series of curated poetry evenings and music hosted by Ivy and featuring special guest artists on Feb. 3 and 17, and culminating in a final poetry jam on April 6.

Ivy was instrumental in advocating for the Grammy Awards to add a new category strictly dedicated to poets and spoken word artists worldwide. In 2022, the Recording Academy created a new category for Best Spoken Word Poetry Album. Following the change, Ivy received his second Grammy nomination and his first Grammy Award for his spoken word poetry album “The Poet Who Sat By The Door.”

The CAP UCLA 2023 programs continue on Friday, Sept. 29, with Ethiocolor, and Saturday, Sept. 30, with “Conrad Tao & Caleb Teichner: Counterpoint.”

Royce Hall is located at 10745 Dickson Court. The UCLA Nimoy Theater is located at 1262 Westwood Blvd. For information, call (310)825-2101, or visit cap.ucla.edu.