One of the Nashville’s longest running musical groups will be making a special holiday appearance at the City Winery on December 26. The Nashville Jazz Orchestra has been one of the city’s finest large bands for decades, and the place where many of the city’s finest improvisers assembled to play both classic tunes and originals. The group’s roots date back to the mid–90s when trumpeter and arranger Jim Williams founded it. For many years it was the city’s only large jazz ensemble.
They got their start playing concerts at schools, parks, festivals, and theatres, plus select engagements. Williamson began organizing jam sessions at the Nashville Jazz Workshop in 2003. He gradually expanded his role into one of not only leadership but advocacy, finding venues and locals for the band, as well as recruiting new members and encouraging them to also bring in their music for the jam sessions and concerts. The orchestra has previously been in residence at Vanderbilt’s Blair School of Music and at the City Winery. Despite Williamson’s passing in 2020, the Nashville Jazz Orchestra has remained active, and today is under the leadership of Ted Wilson. They continue in their mission to “perpetuate jazz,” presenting in their concerts an intriguing, evolving mix of old and new music.
Their December 26 concert will no doubt have a holiday edge to it, the concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available either online or at the City Winery, 609 Lafayette Street.
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