NYJO Blueprint Orchestra

Join us on Monday 5th October and NYJO Blueprint Orchestra’s bold programme celebrating two of the most influential figures in big band jazz, Toshiko Akiyoshi and Duke Ellington. Under the musical direction of Olivia Murphy , the evening will showcase the power and lasting appeal of large-ensemble jazz for a new generation of musicians.

A forward-looking ensemble for emerging professional musicians, NYJO Blueprint Orchestra is the latest innovation from NYJO (National Youth Jazz Orchestra), launched this Autumn 2026. This is a group that reimagines the big band model through ambitious repertoire, creative collaboration and artistic development.

Audiences can expect to hear ‘Far East Suite’, the renowned and brilliant masterpiece by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. The music was primarily inspired by the Ellington Orchestra’s tours across Asia in 1963 and 1964 and is a reflective, evocative, and powerful musical tour through the “East allowing space to feature the amazing improvisers within the ensemble.

The band will also be exploring the work of Toshiko Akiyoshi – particularly compositions from the album "March of The Tadpoles", the fifth studio recording of the Toshiko Akiyoshi/Lew Tabackin Big Band.

Led by Musical Director Olivia Murphy, NYJO Blueprint Orchestra reimagines NYJO’s big band model through consistent rehearsal, creative ambition, and a focussed commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. Designed to support musicians in developing high-level large ensemble skills, the programme creates a forward-looking artistic context that reflects today’s jazz landscape.