The Big Beat Gala Fundraiser Celebrates the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra

NEW ORLEANS (press release) – The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra (NOJO) hosts the 2022 Big Beat Gala, celebrating the Grammy-award winning orchestra’s 20th year anniversary on Saturday, November 19. The annual fundraiser kicks off with a patron reception beginning at 6pm and the concert beginning at 7pm at the New Orleans Jazz Market.

The in-person event includes an engaging live musical program featuring NOJO Creative Director Adonis Rose and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra performing standards and original music. Special guests for the gala include Grammy Award-winning Nicholas Payton, jazz vocalist Phillip Manuel and New Orleans jazz Trumpeter Leroy Jones. Following the performance, an official after-party will take place featuring Bo Dollis and the Wild Magnolias drinks, and dancing with a live DJ.

Proceeds from the gala, as well as ticket sales from the after-party, benefit the annual programming and educational initiatives of the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra. One of those initiatives is The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra School of Music (NOJOSOM); a FREE Saturday and after-school music education initiative that provides small and large ensemble instruction in Jazz and Classical idioms.

“Resilience, spiritual fortitude and innovation are the chief characteristics of the African American experience. These qualities are expressed in musical terms as Jazz – the music developed and preserved in New Orleans,” says New Orleans Jazz Orchestra Board Member, Bill Rouselle. “Please join us as we celebrate 20 years of keeping the spirit of Jazz alive and growing.”

The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra was formed in 2002 and was designed to celebrate and fortify the American Jazz portfolio while providing infrastructure for developing the New Orleans Jazz Industry. Led by Managing and Artistic Director Adonis Rose, this 20-piece big band has an ever-increasing repertoire that exemplifies the influence of Jazz as the grandfather of all modern American music. Adonis Rose and NOJO have headlined major performing arts venues around the world, positioning themselves as ambassadors for New Orleans big band jazz. Their homebase is The New Orleans Jazz Market, the only stand-alone facility in New Orleans designed specifically for jazz, where they produce and perform a season of dynamic performances often with talented local musicians and internationally-known special guests.

“The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra has served our community and exported our music and culture around the world for twenty years,” says Adonis Rose, Creative Director, The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra. “We are excited to celebrate this monumental anniversary with our fans, musical collaborators, and patrons of the Jazz Market.” 

NOJO recognizes the generous support of the Ford Foundation and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. NOJO gratefully acknowledges its community donors and supporters for their generous support.

The New Orleans Jazz Market is located at 1436 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70113. Sponsor tickets start at $500 each, general tickets beginning at $150/person (sponsorship packages available), may be purchased online at thenojo.com or by calling 504.646.8390.

Concert and After-Party tickets, which do not include the pre-concert reception, will be available separately. Single tickets will go on sale in October and can be purchased at thenojo.com

Digital Sponsors

Become a MyNewOrleans.com sponsor ...

Sign up for our FREE

New Orleans Magazine email newsletter

Get the the best in New Orleans dining, shopping, events and more delivered to your inbox.