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San Diego Jazz Orchestra
July 21 @ 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
See the Band Social Media Page HERE
The San Diego Jazz Orchestra is an elite 16 to 18-member big band comprised of top-tier Southern California musicians and members of the American Federation of Musicians Local 325. Led by bandleader Brad Steinwehe, this powerhouse ensemble brings high-energy, classic big band arrangements to life across various premier music spaces in the region. [1, 2, 3]
Performance Profile
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- The Ensemble: The group features prominent local jazz artists and instrumentalists, including renowned names like alto saxophonist Christopher Hollyday and drummer Don Kuhli. [1]
- The Repertoire: They specialize in sweeping, high-power big band jazz, celebrating both traditional arrangements and modern interpretations of jazz standards. [1, 2, 3, 4]
- Affordable Access: The orchestra frequently collaborates with the AFM Music Performance Trust Fund to offer free public community concerts, making world-class big band jazz highly accessible to San Diego crowds. [1]
Where They Perform
While the orchestra does not maintain its own standalone brick-and-mortar venue, you can regularly catch them or similar large-scale jazz ensembles at San Diego’s most celebrated jazz and symphonic hubs:
- Dizzy’s: Located at 1717 Morena Blvd, this legendary, no-fuss independent music space regularly hosts the San Diego Jazz Orchestra for specialized big band sets. [1, 2, 3, 4]
- Lou Lou’s Jungle Room: Located at 2225 El Cajon Blvd, this historic, upscale supper club serves as a frequent debut and residency stage for the orchestra’s powerhouse lineups.
- Jacobs Music Center: Located at 1245 Seventh Ave, this world-class symphonic hall hosts the curated Jazz @ The Jacobs series, which showcases massive ensemble jazz and tributes led by local virtuoso Gilbert Castellanos.