The best Lincoln Center Out of Doors events in 2015

Bassist David Hood and guitarist Jimmy Johnson, charter members of the famed Muscle Shoals rhythm section, join special-guest singers for a booty-moving rock & soul extravaganza kicking off this year's Lincoln Center Out of Doors offerings.

The innovative tap group Dorrance Dance performs "The Blues Project Revisited," its soul-stirring collaboration with the astonishing folk/blues musician Toshi Reagon and her band, BIGLovely.

Lincoln Center's vast central plaza will be awhirl with the athletic wheelchair dancers of Heidi Latsky Dance in a performance celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Wheels up!

Brazilian bandleader Letieres Leite and his celebrated horns-and-percussion orchestra, which interprets traditional Bahian folk music, makes its U.S. debut, with help from guest stars including trumpeter Steven Bernstein and pianist Arturo O'Farrill.

Three powerful institutions gather for this blockbuster evening: the Afro-Caribbean-inflected postmodern choreographer Garth Fagan and his troupe; dance icon Carmen de Lavallade performing a recent work, The Creation; and the Harlem's Ebony Ecumenical Ensemble, which raises its collective voice in praise.

Brooklyn contemporary-classical guitar quartet Dither hosts a promising evening featuring the group's collaborations with avant-rockers including ex–Sonic Youth–er Lee Ranaldo and Yo La Tengo, and a version of Steve Reich's Electric Counterpoint led by Bang on a Can member Mark Stewart. Also on hand are Baltimore electronic-music provocateurs Matmos.

Spanish Harlem vet Joe Bataan heads a tribute to the ’60s Cuban-soul hybrid known as boogaloo that will also feature local mainstays the Boogaloo Destroyers, joined here by eminent salsa pianist-singer Richie Ray.

Watkins Family Hour, the sibling act featuring Nickel Creek members Sara and Sean Watkins, heads a roots-minded 50th-anniversary tribute to the Bob Dylan masterpiece, featuring starry guests such as Fiona Apple.

Lyle Lovett can shuffle through American music genres with well-trained ease. Few of his contemporaries can switch from Count Basie swing to mournful gospel and then add a prison spiritual, as if collecting bonus points. At this Lincoln Center Out of Doors season closer, Lovett plays with his 12-piece ensemble, the Large Band.