Adirondack Jazz Orchestra

The Adirondack Jazz Orchestra was founded in 2003 under the musical direction of Mr. Matthew Pray. It’s sole purpose was to bring together some of the Adirondack’s finest musicians in a big band setting.

The AJO is a big band. It showcases the traditional big band sound of five trumpets, four trombones, and five saxophones with the added flavor of the tuba. Members of the group consists of high school music educators, college professors, and college students all who have the interest to perform on a regular basis.

Each of these members donate their time and talents towards showing our local community that great music is alive in our area.The Adirondack Jazz Orchestra plays a wide variety of the Big Band Genre. It plays standard big band arrangements as well as original compositions.

The AJO has the full sound of a big band, with the flexibility of a jazz quintet. This offers soloists room to improvise freely, but with the powerful sounds of the big band to back them up.Prior to 2009, the AJO would perform one to two times a year.

In September of 2009, the AJO came to an agreement with “Olive Ridley’s Restaurant and Lounge” in Plattsburgh NY to perform regularly the first Wednesday of the month from 8-10 p.m. Admission to Olive Ridley’s is absolutely free with the intention of inspiring all ages to come to the show.

Each month the AJO performs a line up of charts from Glenn Miller, Buddy Rich, Charles Mingus, Thad Jones, Maynard Ferguson and arrangements written by some of the group’s members. Often the group will “sight-read” charts for fun on those nights.On May 10th, 2010 the AJO opened for “The World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra” which was under the musical direction of Larry O’Brien.

From traditional Big Band sounds to modern contemporary arrangements, the AJO covers a wide variety of the Big Band Genre. The AJO performs the first Wednesday of the Month from 8-10pm @ Olive Ridley’s.