Westchester Jazz Orchestra

Westchester Jazz Orchestra

The Westchester Jazz Orchestra
Background information
Origin Westchester, New York
Genres Jazz, Big band
Years active 2002 (2002)-present
Labels WJO Productions
Website https://artswestchester.org/profile/westjazzorch/
Members
  • Mike Holober, Director
  • Jay Brandford, Lead Alto Saxophone
  • David Brandon, Alto Saxophone
  • Ralph Lalama, Tenor Saxophone
  • Jason Rigby, Tenor Saxophone
  • Ed Xiques, Baritone Saxophone
  • Tony Kadleck, Lead Trumpet
  • Craig Johnson, Trumpet
  • Jim Rotundi, Trumpet
  • Marvin Stamm, Trumpet
  • Larry Dean Farrell, Trombone
  • Keith O'Quinn, Trombone
  • Bruce Eiden, Trombone
  • George Flynn, Bass Trombone
  • Ted Rosenthal, Piano
  • Harvie S, Bass
  • Andy Watson, Drums

The Westchester Jazz Orchestra is a 17 piece concert jazz orchestra based in Westchester, New York currently conducted by jazz pianist and composer Mike Holober. The orchestra has been critically acclaimed by prominent periodicals such as the New York Times, Down Beat, and JazzTimes.[1][2] The Westchester Jazz Orchestra was honored as a runner up for “Best Big Band” in the 2011 JazzTimes readers’ poll.[3] The ensemble operates as a non-profit artistic entity based in the Westchester County region of New York.[4]

The group was founded by saxophonist Joey Berkley in 2002; the ensemble has been directed by pianist Mike Holober since 2007. The ensemble is composed of prominent names in professional music circles; numerous works have been commissioned from jazz composers and arrangers by the WJO. They primarily use the talents of their own members for new, original music. Their first album was released in 2007 under their own label, WJO Productions.

The WJO features studio musicians in the New York City region and has performed numerous concerts to include artistic collaborations with performers, composers and arrangers such as Alan Broadbent, Janis Siegel, Pete McGuinness, Kenny Berger, Joe Lovano, and Jack Cooper.

Discography/DVD

See also

References

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 10/7/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.