Spokane Jazz Orchestra

Saturday is SJO's season opening concert! It will highlight the creative and interesting ways in which classical music has been combined with jazz. Over the years, many classical composers have incorporated jazz styles and improvisation into their music, but it works the other way as well. From the concepts of third stream, to the incorporation of classical forms like the fugue, or theme and variations, jazz has done its fair share of combination as well. This concert will feature several new arrangements by SJO musicians, as well as pre-existing “Classical Meets Jazz” pieces, culminating with an amazing jazz arrangement of the entire suite, “The Planets," by Gustav Holst.

Join us this Saturday, Oct. 5th at 7:30 at the Bing Crosby Theater.
Get tickets now at https://tinyurl.com/SJO24-25

Jazz Concerts | Spokane Jazz Orchestra Spokane Jazz Big Band performances feature amazing solos and improvisation from highly accomplished musicians and talented guest artists

Tickets are available for the upcoming season of SJO, Spokane’s extraordinarily talented big band jazz ensemble. Get your tickets now at https://tinyurl.com/SJO24-25. All concerts are held at the beautiful Bing Crosby Theater.

Our season opens Oct. 5 with an evening of Classical Meets Jazz featuring new arrangements by SJO musicians and familiar pieces including an amazing jazz arrangement of the entire suite, “The Planets," by Gustav Holst. On Dec. 14, the SJO brings you the Christmas Music of the great Ray Charles along with featured performer, LaShund Lambert. Look forward to March 15 showcasing the music of Frank Sinatra with vocalist and trumpeter, Jake Bergevin. Our season concludes on May 10 when the SJO is joined by Spokane’s beloved salsa and mambo band, Son Dulce, for a night of Mambo and Salsa!

Congratulations to Teghan from Mead High School who was chosen for the Quindrey Davis Memorial award at the May 18th Spokane Jazz Experience (SJE). She was awarded a Yamaha YAS-62, which is a professional-grade alto saxophone.

SJE is an all-day event put on by our trustees and Spokane Jazz Orchestra musicians as part of our nonprofit mission to mentor and instruct deserving young musicians in our community.

The award is named for the late SJO drummer, Quindrey Davis, who was dedicated to music education (many SJO musicians teach music at area universities, high schools and middle schools). Teghan was selected because of her exceptional talent, leadership and enthusiasm demonstrated at this year's SJE.

Pictured with Teghan are (left) SJO alto sax player Cameron La Plante and (right) SJO Music Director Dr. Don Goodwin, both of whom are Trustees. Our Board of Trustees is passionate about student jazz music education and contributing to our community.

Jazz orchestras from three area high schools participate in the SJE each year, culminating with students and SJO professional musicians playing together for family members at the end of the day. This is the second annual SJE, sponsored beginning this year by Morgan Stanley. We greatly appreciate their investment in deserving young musicians.

Meet a multi-talented member of the Spokane Jazz Orchestra.

The Spokane Jazz Orchestra invites all regional drum set players to audition for its drum set opening. The audition will take place at Eastern Washington University (in the music building) on Wednesday, August 7th, starting at 6pm.

The Spokane Jazz Orchestra is a vibrant regional professional big band that performs 4-8 times per year, primarily at the Bing Crosby Theater in Spokane, WA. We perform a variety of musical styles including straight ahead jazz, Latin, funk, and rock.

Auditionees will be asked to perform in trio format with our pianist and bassist. There will be three required excerpts, as well as a standard from the Great American Songbook for callbacks (if necessary). The first round of auditions will be blind.

If you are interested, please email Eugene Jablonsky at [email protected]. Music will be sent to you digitally.

The Spokane Jazz Orchestra invites all regional drum set players to audition for its drum set opening. The audition will take place at Eastern Washington University (in the music building) on Wednesday, August 7th, starting at 6pm.

The Spokane Jazz Orchestra is a vibrant regional professional big band that performs 4-8 times per year, primarily at the Bing Crosby Theater in Spokane, WA. We perform a variety of musical styles including straight ahead jazz, Latin, funk, and rock.

Auditionees will be asked to perform in trio format with our pianist and bassist. There will be three required excerpts, as well as a standard from the Great American Songbook for callbacks (if necessary). The first round of auditions will be blind.

If you are interested, please email Eugene Jablonsky at [email protected]. Music will be sent to you digitally.

Season ticket sales continue through June 30. The price is $140 per seat for 4 concerts -- that's a savings of $50 over purchasing individual tickets (based on discounted pricing and no added fees).

If you had SJO season tickets last season, you should have received an email with renewal information. If you are interested in becoming a new season ticket holder, welcome! There are a set number of new season tickets available, so contact SJO Trustee Brian at [email protected] for more information or to be added to the list for season tickets.

We're looking forward to our 48th season!
Oct 5, 2024 - Classical Meets Jazz
Dec 14, 2024 - The Christmas Music of Ray Charles with guest vocalist LaShund Lambert
March 15, 2025 - The Music of Frank Sinatra with guest vocalist Jake Bergevin
May 10, 2025 - Spokane's own Son Dulce, Mambo and Salsa Music!

Individual tickets can be purchased from TicketsWest later in July or early August-- we'll let you know when they become available.

Announced at last Saturday's concert -- the theme, graphic and dates for the upcoming 2024-25 Spokane Jazz Orchestra Season. A shoutout to talented graphic designer Deanna Camp for the amazing graphics she does each year.

Season ticket sales are happening now! $140 per seat for 4 concerts -- that's a savings of $50 over purchasing individual tickets. Email SJO Trustee Brian at [email protected] for season ticket information.

Checklist for the upcoming weekend.
___ Go outside and enjoy the beautiful weather
___ Make sure your Mother's Day gift is ready (SJO tickets are great gifts)
___ Attend the SJO concert on Sat, May 11, 7:30 at The Bing
___ Make sure all Moms have a great day on Sunday!

Still need to get your SJO Tickets? https://tinyurl.com/sjo23-24

Mother's Day gift idea -- tickets to the Sat. May 11th SJO concert, 7:30pm. $25, $35 (plus fees). Great music. Beautiful venue. Time together. Mom will thank you. Tickets at https://tinyurl.com/sjo23-24

The Spokane Jazz Orchestra features some of the best jazz musicians in the Northwest, many teaching their instrument at area universities or leading jazz bands/orchestras at high schools and middle schools.

The calibre of talent is outstanding and a real value due to SJO's nonprofit mission of making big band jazz accessible to as many as possible. See you at our Sat, May 11th concert. Guest artist is keyboardist Wayne Horvitz. Tickets: $25, $35. Students at the door $17 (Bing & TicketsWest fees added onto face price). Click here: https://tinyurl.com/sjo23-24

SJO with guest artist Wayne Horvitz will be an exciting evening with outstanding musicians. Don’t miss it! Tickets at https://tinyurl.com/sjo5-24

SJO's guest artist on May 11 is Wayne Horvitz who has performed extensively throughout Europe, Asia, Australia, and North America.

He was part of the New York "downtown scene" back in the early nineties with John Zorn and Bill Frissell, and also a member of the ground-breaking group Naked City, which combined jazz with metal and free improvisation to come up with a brand-new sound.

Don't miss an extraordinary evening of innovative jazz. Tickets $35 & $25 (plus fees) and only $17 at the door for students with ID. Get your tickets here: https://tinyurl.com/sjo5-24

Did you know April is Jazz Appreciation Month? How to celebrate? Get your tickets during April and enjoy jazz next month at the Spokane Jazz Orchestra concert on Sat, May 11, 7:30pm at Bing Crosby Theater. Tickets $35, $25. Students at the door only $17 with school/college ID. Click here for tickets. https://tinyurl.com/sjo5-24

Big band jazz by some of the best jazz musicians in the NW. A great value for amazing music. Last concert of this season. Tickets at https://tinyurl.com/sjo5-24

Spokane Jazz Orchestra The Spokane Jazz Orchestra performs 4 big band jazz concerts at The Bing each season.

What makes the music of SJO guest artist Wayne Horvitz shine is his gift as a composer -- the way his themes and harmonies evoke different memories and emotions. Wayne's compositions will be featured, along with his legendary keyboard skills, in the May 11 SJO concert. Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/sjo5-24

SJO will be joined by an immensely talented guest artist for the May 11 concert. Keyboardist Wayne Horvitz is the recipient of the 2019 American Prize in Orchestral Composition and performs extensively throughout Europe, Japan, and North America, as well as at his jazz club in Seattle, the Royal Room.
Get your tickets now. https://tinyurl.com/sjo5-24

Excited to have jazz music as part of the Expo 50th celebration.

It takes great leadership to keep a community organization growing and flourishing. At Spokane Jazz Orchestra, we have the best. Board of Trustees President Kevin Berkompas (left) and Music Director Dr. Don Goodwin have led SJO through good times and COVID times, and it is better than ever.

Hope to see you May 11 for the final concert of this season with guest artist Wayne Horvitz, keyboardist extraordinaire. Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/sjo5-24

Thank you and congratulations to Bo Cooke (right) the winner of the silent auction of a snare drum donated by Mapex and signed by SJO guest artist and world renowned drummer Jeff Hamilton.

The $2,200 raised by the winning bid has been donated to the young family of beloved SJO drummer Quindrey Davis who passed away last October. The drum was personally delivered by SJO Trustees President Kevin Berkompas.

Bo is a member of the group Chaps' Chaps, which plays many Friday evenings at Chaps Diner & Bakery in West Spokane. The group's drummer, Juan Paras, will be playing the drum. The group also includes Tristan Pierce on lead guitar, Blake Braley on keyboard & vocals, Eddie Ramirez on bass and lead vocalist Keleren Millham (an SJO guest vocalist from spring 2022).

Our thanks for the generosity of all involved.

Attention all drummers & collectors. A generous donation from Mapex Drums, arranged by guest artist Jeff Hamilton, will benefit the family of Quindrey Davis, SJO's beloved drummer who passed away unexpectedly this past October at age 29, leaving behind a pregnant wife and young son. Their daughter was born two months ago. As a fellow drummer, Jeff wants to help this deserving young family.

An SJO Trustee/musician has started the bidding at $500. Bids must be in $25 increments so the next bid will need to be $525 or higher. The retail value of the drum (without including the value of Jeff Hamilton's signature) is $1,309.

Bids can be submitted 2 ways and must include full name, cell phone number, email address and bid amount.

Via email in $25 increments to the SJO Trustee President at [email protected] through March 9, 6pm. You can also email him with questions, to find out the current high bid or for a spec sheet on the drum.

Via paper submissions to Mapex Drum representative Ben, who will be seated in the lobby at the March 9 concert as patrons arrive and depart and during intermission. New bids again in $25 increments. All bidding ends once the theater closes after the concert.

The new current high bid will be announced at the beginning of the concert and at the end of intermission.

The winning bidder will be contacted on March 10 and announced on SJO social media once payment is received.
Funds will go directly to Quindrey's widow Allyson via a Venmo account.

Spokane Jazz Orchestra The Spokane Jazz Orchestra performs 4 big band jazz concerts at The Bing each season.