The Knoxville Jazz Orchestra was founded in 1999 by trumpeter, arranger and composer Vance Thompson. Since that time, the band has appeared on jazz festivals in the United States and Europe, released four critically acclaimed CD recordings and presented scores of concerts, many featuring world renowned guest artists. 

KNOXVILLE JAZZ ORCHESTRA

Vance Thompson: director, vibraphone

SAXOPHONES: Mark Tucker, David King, alto; Greg Tardy, Skip Lane, tenor; Tom Johnson, bari

TROMBONES: Tom Lundberg, Alex van Duuren, Chris MacTavish, Sean Copland

TRUMPETS: Michael Wyatt, Nathan Warner, Stewart Cox, Michael Spirko

RHYTHM: Bill Swann, piano, Tommy Sauter, bass, Keith Brown, drums

Past Guest Artists

PIANO: Monty Alexander, Donald Brown, Keith Brown, Emmet Cohen, Aaron Diehl, Geoffrey Keezer, Hank Jones, Mulgrew Miller, James Morrison, Arturo O'Farrill, Eric Reed, Elio Villafranca

BASS: John Clayton, Eddie Gomez, Christian McBride, Ricardo Rodriguez, Joshua Thomas

DRUMS: Vince Cherico, Joe Gonzalez, Roland Guerrero, Jeff Hamilton, Dafnis Prieto, Herlin Riley, Kendrick Scott, Ed Soph, Karl Wright

SAXOPHONE: Wessel Anderson, Don Braden, Seamus Blake, James Carter, Jeff Clayton, Tim Green, Jimmy Heath, Vincent Herring, James Moody, James Morrison, Maceo Parker, Greg Tardy, Bobby Watson, Kirk Whalum

TRUMPET: Ingrid Jensen, Sean Jones, Brian Lynch, Bill Mobley, James Morrison, Marcus Printup, Doc Severinsen, Terrel Stafford, Byron Stripling, Marvin Stamm

TROMBONE: Michael Dease, Wycliffe Gordon, Conrad Herwig, Delfeayo Marsalis, Paul McKee, James Morrison, Ron Westray

CLARINET: Anat Cohen, Ken Peplowski, Doreen Ketchens

HAMMOND B-3 ORGAN: Dan Trudell

CONDUCTOR/ARRANGER: John Clayton, Arturo O'Farrill, Terry Vosbein, Gerald Wilson

VIBRAPHONE: Stefon Harris, Simon Moullier, Warren Wolf

GUITAR/DOBRO: Andy Bassford, Bill Frisell, Rob Ickes, John Pizzarelli

VIOLIN: Regina Carter

VOCALS: Karrin Allyson, Jill Andrews, Carmen Bradford, Deborah Brown, Clairdee, Dee Daniels, Kurt Elling, Kayley Farmer, Kelle Jolly, Melba Joyce, Kevin Mahogany, René Marie, Jane Monheit, Maceo Parker, John Pizzarelli, Gregory Porter, Robinella, Catherine Russell, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Annie Sellick, Brianna Thomas, Veronica Swift, Sachal Vasandani