This year’s Swing Central Jazz Finale—an annual SMF highlight—is based on Marcus Roberts and The Modern Jazz Generation’s 2014 album, Romance, Swing and the Blues. The Modern Jazz Generation, a 12-piece band that grew from the philosophy and style of the Marcus Roberts Trio, is based on the principle of mentoring that plays such a critical role in the evolution of jazz. Combining SMF Associate Artistic Director Marcus Roberts (piano), Jason Marsalis (drums) and Rodney Jordan (bass) with protégés from the lineage of three decades of Roberts’ work as an educator, the band will present selections from their suite of original work. Leading off the concert, the top three finalists of the Swing Central Jazz high school band competition take the stage to vie for the coveted Jean Elizabeth Faircloth Award.