Your Portland Jazz Orchestra will share the stage with the fabulous South Portland Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of PJO writer/trumpeter Craig Skeffington, on February 16th at One Longfellow Square.

The South Portland High School Jazz Ensemble is coming back, after a two-year covid hiatus. Every time SOPO joins PJO, playing a set on PJO’s break, they bring a talented and entertaining groups of jazz students. This year promises to uphold this tradition. It’s great for PJO to share the stage with these future jazzers and hear the future of jazz in Maine. As these local bands always bring a great crowd, it’s best to book your seats soon to enjoy these two great bands on February 16th.

Performing regularly at One Longfellow Square since 2006, the Portland Jazz Orchestra is Maine’s premier concert jazz ensemble. Under the direction of Dr. Chris Oberholtzer, this 19-piece jazz ensemble performs a variety of instrumental and vocal big band literature. PJO enjoys playing works written by members and area musicians such as Craig Skeffington, Mike Sakash, Brad Ciechomski, Jake Sturtevent, and Terry White. In addition to performing original literature, PJO often performs music from the libraries of Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Stan Kenton, Bill Holman, Patrick Williams, Woody Herman and Maria Schneider, to name a few.

PJO is made up of professional musicians, many of whom are both performers and educators in New England. Members of the PJO have performed, recorded and toured with numerous artists including: Natalie Cole, Tony Bennett, Wayne Bergeron, The New York Voices, Barry Manilow, Roberta Flack, the Temptations, the Artie Shaw Orchestra, the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra and the Glenn Miller Orchestra.

In keeping with our educational background, the Portland Jazz Orchestra is available for educational clinics and performances throughout northern New England.