::NOJO:: Neufeld-Occhipinti Jazz Orchestra

" A Canadian band that is one of the most imaginative large ensembles on the current jazz scene.the real fascination of the album is the work of the co-leaders, compelling in virtually every composition, and often free of the sectionalized approach to instrumentation typical of most big-band writing."

Don Heckman
Los Angeles Times

"They clearly have a lot of fun playing and their enthusiasm is contagious. In fact, the only other large ensemble I've heard recently that matches NOJO's high energy and musicianship is the acclaimed Mingus Big Band."

Joel Roberts
allaboutjazz.com

"Innovative and accessible, their writing makes NOJO an important band to be reckoned with."

Peter Hum
Ottawa Citizen

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2007 National Jazz Award Nominees NOJO, the Neufeld-Occhipinti Jazz Orchestra Makes its first appearance in 2007!

ANNOUNCING NOJO MONDAYS AT
TRANE STUDIO
EVERY MONDAY IN MARCH
2 BIG SETS STARTING AT 9:30 PM

Come catch all 17 members of NOJO adding injecting some heat into a cold winter!
964 Bathurst, just north of Bloor 416 913-8197
ADMISSION IS ONLY $10, $8 WITH STUDENT CARD.

NOJO is once again nominated for Big Band of the Year at
www.nationaljazzawards.com
Please go and vote for us!

2005 has been a good year for award nominations, with NOJO's CD City of Neighbourhoods nominated for both a JUNO and a Canadian Independent Music Award, and now we're pleased to announce that NOJO is in the running for two National Jazz Awards (Big Band of the Year and, more surprisingly, Electric Group of the Year). The winner will be decided by online fan voting, and we encourage you to visit www.nationaljazzawards.com to vote for NOJO and your favourite jazz artists. The awards will be presented in Toronto on June 21st.

2005 seems to be shaping up as an important year for NOJO. It marks the 10th aniversary of NOJO's first recording (recorded April 1995, and released in the autumn of that year), and it also marks the 10th anniversary of NOJO Saturday matinees at Toronto's Rex Jazz Bar. In the early winter of 1995, NOJO was looking to do a house gig to get ready for its upcoming recording session. At that time, the Rex only had jazz in the evenings and we offered to do Saturday afternoons.

Our hope was that it would build up over time, but within three weeks there were loyal crowds coming out to see the band every week, and The Toronto Star, Globe and Mail, and NOW magazine soon did stories on NOJO at the Rex, as did TVO. It proved to be a great five month run that introduced many Torontonians to NOJO's music and helped the band polish up the repertoire that was recorded on the cd NOJO Neufeld-Occhipinti Jazz Orchestra which we released independently.

We eventually made a decision to stop doing the Rex every Saturday, as the music is difficult to sight read, and we were having to rely on too many subs once the busy summer months came. Rex Saturdays have been popular ever since however, and NOJO will celebrate the tenth anniversary of its run there with two gigs, Saturday Feb. 5th and Saturday March 5th, 3-6pm. The Rex, 194 Queen Street West, Toronto, 416.598.2475. www.jazzintoronto.com

February 5th will feature the touring 9-piece band that is headed to the U.S. for a two week tour, and March 5th will reunite all 16 of NOJO’s members in a rare afternoon at the Rex. Come out and celebrate NOJO at the Rex! The Rex, 194 Queen Street West, Toronto, 416.598.2475. www.jazzintoronto.com

NOJO is pleased to report that the band is headed south of the border for the first time since 1998, and is doing a two week tour in support of the cd City of Neighbourhoods. Released in 2004 in Canada, City of Neighbourhoods will be released in the U.S.A. on February 8th, 2005 on True North Records (truenorthrecords.com), distributed by Rounder (www.rounder.com). We are very pleased to say that the February issue of DownBeat magazine gives NOJO four stars(****).

Featuring: the soon to depart NOJO9 as we tune up for our big USA tour

February 8-19, 2005 – NOJO USA tour
8^th – Castleton State College, Castleton, Vermont, Castleton State College concerts
9^th – Jazz Standard, New York City; with Don Byron. jazz standard schedule
10^th – NXNW, Philadelphia north by northwest schedule
11^th – Club Helsinki, Great Barrington, MA club helsinki schedule
12^th – The Van Dyck, Schenectedy, NY van dyck schedule
13^th – Ryles, Cambridge, MA ryles jazz schedule
15^th – Blues Alley, Washington, DC blues alley schedule
17^th – Night Town, Cleveland, OH night town
18^th – Charleston Jazz Series, Charleston, WV charleston jazz series
19^th – The Firefly, Ann Arbor, MI firefly club

NOJO is also touring Canada in April 2005, although a few dates still need to be confirmed. Venue names will be available shortly, but the schedule includes:

April 8 - Winnipeg MB

April 9 - Regina SK

April 10 - Saskatoon, SK

April 13 - Penticton BC

April 14 - Salmon Arm BC

April 15 - Kamloops BC

April 16 - Kelowna BC

April 17 - Vancouver BC

April 20 - Robert's Creek BC

April 22 - Edmonton AB

April 23 - Calgary AB

Please check back for future dates. NOJO is currently making plans to go to Holland, Turkey, and other North American dates as well in 2005