The Reno Jazz Orchestra (RJO) turned twenty-one this year. Thank you northern Nevada for believing in our mission and supporting us all these years. In 1997 we started performing at the Continental Lodge on the corner of Virginia Street and Plumb Lane to standing room crowds. Just three of the founding band remain, myself, trombonist Rich Lewis, and tenor saxophonist Jim Garaventa, but the spirit of the original band is still with us. It is a strong motivation to share our love of jazz and inspire the next generation of jazz musicians...
The RJO Blog
News and Articles
Northern Nevada - We Love You Madly
September 21, 2018 · By RJO · No Comments
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'Gem of a singer' Tierney Sutton
August 24, 2018 · By RJO · No Comments
Labor Day. Our great American holiday is the perfect weekend to showcase the Great American Songbook. Many singers visit the Great American Songbook, but it is the gifted singer that can present a gem of a song in a new light by changing the angle a bit to reveal new facets.
Eight-time Grammy nominee Tierney Sutton is truly one of those gifted singers. The Reno Jazz Orchestra is pleased to share the stage with Sutton on Friday, Aug. 31 at the Cargo Concert Hall in the Whitney Peak Hotel and Saturday, Sept. 1 at the Sand Harbor Amphitheater in Incline Village...
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RJO Honors A Trio Of Jazz Legends
July 24, 2018 · By RJO · No Comments
The Reno Jazz Orchestra celebrates New Orleans' 300th anniversary with “New Orleans – A Night in the Big Easy” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 28, 2018, at Wingfield Park. This article features the music and musicians, but first a pop quiz...
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Let the Good Times Roll
June 02, 2018 · By RJO · No Comments
On July 28th the Reno Jazz Orchestra (RJO) will present “New Orleans, A Night in the Big Easy” as a part of Artown. It seems a perfect match as Reno’s 150th anniversary coincides with New Orleans’ 300th anniversary!
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Maiden Voyage- The RJO in MidTown
May 05, 2018 · By RJO · No Comments
May 18th and 19th the RJO will perform at our new home “the Union Hall” in Midtown. Our maiden voyage! ...Our first concert features the big band music of RJO bassist and member of the UNR jazz faculty Hans Halt. You will hear his original compositions, arrangements of great jazz standards, and transcriptions. There will also be some special guests...
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Exceptional Student Jazz- The Reno Youth Orchestra
April 06, 2018 · By RJO · No Comments
When I heard that six Washoe County School District jazz students made Nevada All State ensembles and all of them members of the Reno Youth Jazz Orchestra (RYJO) I knew I had to touch base with RYJO Director Vern Scarbrough. Vern and his wife Karen founded RYJO in 2006 and each year RYJO’s program has grown...
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Good Luck Macbeth – We Tell Stories Here
March 09, 2018 · By RJO · No Comments
This article is a first for me. It’s not about jazz, but about our new partner sharing the old musicians’ union hall, the Good Luck Macbeth (GLM) theater group. GLM recently completed its first production, “The Royale”, at our shared building...If you are not familiar with GLM they have been presenting theater productions for ten years in Midtown and are strong supporters of the Midtown district.
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Young Lions Take the Stage
February 12, 2018 · By RJO · No Comments
Why is the RJO so committed to this event? The answer is simple. Jazz is joyous and we want to share that joy. Think of jazz founding father Louis Armstrong. He set the standard that lives on today. Of course, jazz imparts all the human emotions, but if there is one word to describe jazz I can’t think of a better one than joyous. The RJO wants to introduce our students to jazz and encourage them to learn it, love it, and create their own brand of jazz. That is how jazz stays vibrant and alive...
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Jazz Returns to Midtown
January 15, 2018 · By RJO · No Comments
It is thrilling that the performing arts are returning to the musicians’ hall and the RJO is looking forward to a long productive working relationship with Good Luck MacBeth (GLM) and one more shout out to Brian Egan for making this happen! I have to say Reno is still the biggest little city in America and my story today is just one of many proving the point.
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Jazz for the Holidays – A Gospel Christmas
December 16, 2017 · By RJO · 1 Comment
Every year the Reno Jazz Orchestra (RJO) loves to host a holiday concert celebrating friends, family, and community. We are pleased to announce Pat Ester’s Gospel Choir will rejoin us in “Jazz for the Holidays – A Gospel Christmas”. The performances are December 16th (7:30 PM), 17th (2:00 PM) at the Cargo Concert Hall in the Whitney Peak hotel, and 20th (7:00 PM) at Squaw Valley’s Olympic Village. Jazz and Gospel, like much of American music, have their roots in the blues. Both are joyful and when brought together a new, unforgettable, vibe happens that breaks the invisible barrier between audience and performer. Those who joined us last year know what I mean. It is an honor to work with Pat Ester’s Gospel choir under the direction of Lori Johnson. Since jazz musicians and gospel singers rarely get a chance to join forces, this program is very special.
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