The RJO provides a Saturday workshop for students in Northern Nevada who would like to work on improvisation, jazz theory, ear training, and small group performance. Currently taught by Dylan Coleman, 2 sessions are offered for 9 weeks per semester and 2 levels are offered. Each session is limited to 10 students. The culminating project will be 2 concerts in which the Jazz Workshop students are the opening group for an RJO Concert. This is a great opportunity for young musicians who would like to work on skills that they don’t work on in their school ensembles regularly. Students also benefit from the small group instruction, performance aspects and recording experience.

Listen to "Take the Coltrane" recorded at Tanglewood Studios on June 5, 2021 by the Spring 2021 Jazz Workshop Combo.

Spirits is our brand-new CD featuring the music of Earth Wind & Fire. It is the culmination of great recording sessions and studio polishing over the course of nine months. EWF’s music expresses hope, inspiration, and joy. The perfect elixir to re-engage with the world. Many of these songs you will know (and sing along) others might be new to your ears.

I am proud to announce the release of our fifth album “Spirits” which is a collection of Earth, Wind, and Fire’s (EWF) music, our first studio recording since 2000. 2020 and 2021 have been a challenge for us all and this album is a response to that challenge. As EWF’s leader Maurice White said “Most people can't see beauty and love. I see our music as medicine”. Their music is that medicine we need right now and the RJO is proud to present our interpretation...

As a Legacy Society member, your passion, support, and dedication to our organization and fans worldwide will be forever treasured. With your commitment to create your personal legacy for the Reno Jazz Orchestra, you will sustain that extraordinary legacy of music and education that we are honored to share with our fans and community as well.

The RJO concluded this year's Jazz in the Schools program with an online concert featuring RJO trumpeter Julien Knowles with his quartet performing original compositions. The group played thirty minutes, then broke to answer questions from the participating students, and then the Quartet finished with another thirty-minute performance.

Our mission is to build a greater appreciation of jazz in Northern Nevada by providing outstanding big band performances, promoting the artistry of Reno Jazz Orchestra musicians through a variety of ensembles, and supporting jazz education through a mentorship program in middle schools, high schools, and colleges. All combined, we contribute to the vibrancy, diversity, cultural vitality, and quality of our community’s artistic life.

For readers who may be unfamiliar with the RJO, the Reno Jazz Orchestra is Northern Nevada’s premiere big band, in existence for over two decades and featuring some of Northern Nevada’s best jazz musicians. Unfortunately, Covid-19 has presented the RJO from performing live since the beginning of the pandemic. This article will review how the RJO has continued to function in the absence of live concert performances.

Stay in touch with the RJO by joining the RJO Fan Club. All we need is your name and your email address. We'll keep you informed about upcoming performances, events, and our plans for the future. We promise, we won't give your info to anyone outside our organication, and we won't fill your inbox with countless emails, but we will remind you of great music you won't want to miss.