From California to the Catskills! On a pit stop of their 2017 cross-country tour, from Monterey to New York City, on route to Montreal, join The Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, Monterey Jazz Festival’s exceptional high school band, as they thrill audiences with their exciting interpretation of classic and cutting edge big band repertoire.

This performance is presented alongside 23Arts Initiative, Catskill Mountain Foundation and the Monterey Jazz Festival.

Tickets Purchased Ahead: $30

Tickets Purchased at the Door: $35

(Book-ahead ticket prices good up to 5 hours before the performance)

About the NGJO: Monterey Jazz Festival established its high school all-star band, The Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, in 1971 to offer a unique and high-level performance experience for the most accomplished high school jazz musicians from across the country. The Next Generation Jazz Orchestra meets each summer to rehearse with Education Director Paul Contos before embarking on a domestic or international tour that includes appearances at well-known jazz festivals and venues in the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, and Europe. The program culminates in a main stage performance in September at the Monterey Jazz Festival with the annual Artist-In-Residence.

In 2016, the orchestra was comprised of 21 high school musicians from seven states in the USA and Israel. Former members include pianists Benny Green and Patrice Rushen; bassist Larry Grenadier, drummer Chad Wackerman, saxophonists Joshua Redman, Donny McCaslin, Mark Turner, Eric Marienthal, Ted Nash, and Dave Koz; trombonist Andy Martin, flutist Elena Pinderhughes, trumpeters Gilbert Castellanos and Ambrose Akinmusire; and big band leader Gordon Goodwin, to name a few.