The Jazz Orchestra

-- or just The Jazz Orchestra -- was originally organized by the drummer [a=Mel Lewis]. From the very start Lewis recruited the trumpeter [a=Thad Jones] as co-leader.

The orchestra started as a rehearsal band.The debut appearance of the orchestra, at the Village Vanguard, NYC, was Monday February 7, 1966. That was where the legendary Monday Night Concert Series started. The band performed ca 12 years in its original incarnation and did world wide tours.

In 1978 Thad Jones moved to Copenhagen (Denmark) and led the Danish Radio Big Band for several years. The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis band was continued by Mel Lewis alone, then as [a=The Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra].

After the death of Mel Lewis in 1990, the orchestra was continued under the name [a=The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra]. Trombonist John Mosca is responsible for the band at the moment.

Almost 60 years after the inception, The Monday Night sessions at the Village Vanguard are still happening.