Music + Festivals

NEW ORLEANS (press release) – It's Playtime. The Royal Sonesta New Orleans proudly presents The Jazz Playhouse, the best jazz club in the city showcasing New Orleans' greatest Jazz talent and serving your favorite cocktails and appetizers in a luxurious venue on the lobby level of The Royal Sonesta New Orleans hotel.

Nayo Jones (pronounced Nīyō) was born in Chicago into a family of musicians and was destined to be in show business. As an accomplished jazz musician and music educator, her father William “Doc” Jones groomed and nurtured her natural ability from a very young age. Nayo grew up listening to Jazz standards that proved to be a solid foundation and would later become a signature in her own show. Accomplished in her own right, Jones is also a classically trained flutist.

Currently, Nayo is based in New Orleans, where she performs regularly with her band “The Nayo Jones Experience.” In addition to her own show, Ms. Jones also tours alongside New Orleans iconic jazz trumpeter, Kermit Ruffins as a featured vocalist. She has also joined forces with the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra lead by Adonis Rose. She has been featured on their album as well as in live performances.

Nayo’s vocal range has been compared to the likes of Natalie Cole, Nancy Wilson, and even Whitney Houston. She has been the opening act for legendary George Benson, Chris Botti, and more.

Nayo has been on stage at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, French Quarter Fest, and many other Louisiana festivals annually since 2012. She has consistently drawn rave reviews for her performances. Nayo and her band, “The Nayo Jones Experience” has a longstanding residency at the Carousel Lounge located in the historic Hotel Monteleone and The Jazz Playhouse at the Royal Sonesta Hotel.

Nayo’s body of work includes her first original album “My Name is Nayo Jones”, a “Holiday Collection”, a compilation project featuring her dad Doc Jones, and her EP simply titled “Nayo”. Jones is excited about her latest project, “The Nayo Jones Experience Live at the Kerr Cultural Center”, which is a live performance recorded at the Kerr Cultural Center in Scottsdale, AZ in celebration of International Jazz Day.

See The Nayo Jones Experience May 13 and 27. Click here for tickets and more information.