KC's Weekly Big Band Jam Session

New Jazz Order (NJO) is KCJO's weekly big band jam session and creative laboratory, where Kansas City musicians come together to experiment, sight-read, workshop new ideas, and build community.  It's a space that keeps the city's jazz tradition alive by giving emerging and established players a place to grow side by side.

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As part of KCJO JazzWorks!, NJO serves as the real-world extension of our education initiative.  JazzWorks! introduces listeners and learners to the history, language, and craft of jazz; NJO gives them a living, breathing environment where that knowledge becomes practice.  Together, they form a pathway from curiosity, to learning, to participation, that strengthens the artisitc ecosystem that surrounds KCJO.

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What To Expect

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NJO nights are relaxed, community driven, and built around a simple rhythm: the band plays, and then musicians from the audience are welcomed to join the music.

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The evening starts with the NJO band onstage, playing a few tunes to set the mood and give everyone a sense of the charts for the night. It’s a chance to hear the core group lock in and get the room buzzing.

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After those opening tunes, musicians in the audience are invited to come forward if they’d like to play. Just make your presence known at the stage, and the band will work you in. Students, seasoned players, newcomers are all welcome.  It’s an open, supportive environment for anyone who wants to make music.