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This summer, Carnegie Hall’s new National Youth Jazz Orchestra of the USA – NYO Jazz – comes together in its inaugural year for the ensemble’s historic first-ever European tour. Led by acclaimed trumpeter Sean Jones and featuring iconic jazz vocalist Dianne Reeves as a special guest artist, the ensemble will showcase big band favourites, new Carnegie Hall commissioned works, plus arrangements of contemporary pieces that explore jazz’s influence on hip-hip, R&B and pop music.
Formed in 2018 at New York’s Carnegie Hall, NYO Jazz is comprised of 22 of the most outstanding young American jazz musicians, aged 16 to 19, who have been selected from across the US through a rigorous and highly-competitive audition process.
NYO Jazz’s Carnegie Hall debut.
NYO Jazz will be joined for some classic numbers by one of the world’s preeminent jazz vocalists, five-time Grammy Award winner, Dianne Reeves. With her breath-taking virtuosity, improvisational prowess, and unique jazz and R&B stylings, she has received the Grammy Award for ‘Best Jazz Vocal Performance’ for three consecutive recordings: a Grammy first in any vocal category. This year, the National Endowment for the Arts designated Dianne Reeves as a Jazz Master—the highest honour the US bestows on jazz artists. The NYO Jazz concerts offer a rare chance to hear the celebrated vocalist perform with a big band, singing jazz standards in new arrangements that have been especially commissioned for this tour.
Dianne Reeves said: “It is a joy and an honour to tour with the brilliant young musicians of Carnegie Hall’s NYO Jazz… What a wonderful opportunity to share ideas, and aspirations. I know I’ll be inspired and I hope to be a source of the same as we share this musical journey.”
Clive Gillinson, Executive and Artistic Director of Carnegie Hall, commented: “We are incredibly excited to bring together some of the most brilliant young jazz players from across the country to form the very first NYO Jazz… It is our hope to empower these superb musicians to further develop their artistry as they are mentored by some of today’s most esteemed jazz artists and inspire audiences around the world through inspirational performances of America’s original art form.”
The NYO Jazz 2018 European tour, which takes place from July 31st-August 10th, with debut performances in The Netherlands, Germany, Scotland and the U.K. Full details, including ticket information for each venue, are available here.
Feature image photo montage credits of Sean Jones by Jimmy Katz & Dianne Reeves by Jerris Madison. Other photo credits: Chris Lee , NYO Jazz Facebook Page – and (c) info: all rights go to original recording artist/owner/photographer(s).
Last modified: June 27, 2018
