Neufeld-Occhipinti Jazz Orchestra

The Neufeld-Occhipinti Jazz Orchestra (NOJO) is a Canadian jazz musical group formed in 1994 in Toronto.

In 1994 Michael Occhipinti and pianist Paul Neufeld formed the 16-piece NOJO, The Neufeld-Occhipinti Jazz Orchestra, a group the Los Angeles Times describes as “one of the most original sounding large ensembles on the current jazz scene”. The group has released five recordings of original music, alongside their 2010 recording NOJO Explores the Dark Side of the Moon which features the band performing surprising original arrangements of Pink Floyd’s classic album. All five of NOJO’s previous recordings have been JUNO nominated (including the band’s 1995 debut which won the award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album) and its music has intrigued a number of renowned guest soloists including sax great Joe Lovano, trombonist Ray Anderson, trumpeter Kenny Wheeler, and most notably clarinetist Don Byron and the late saxophone giant Sam Rivers, who both recorded and toured with the ensemble. NOJO has performed at such prestigious venues as the Umbria Jazz Winter Festival in Orvieto, Italy, The Jazz Standard in New York, and Montreal’s Festival International de Jazz.

“I thought I’d stay for just a few tunes but this band drew me in with their imaginative compositions, arrangements, and solos, which combined 60’s go-go beats, rippling West African dance patterns, surrealist swinging carnival music, and hypnotic middle eastern trance songs. I picked up a couple of their CD’s on the way out so that I won’t forget Paul Neufeld’s rocking “The Human Blockhead” or Michael Occhipinti’s shimmering high-wire tribute “The Great Farini.”

— Larry Applebaum, JazzTimes

“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

“The Neufeld-Occhipinti Jazz Orchestra is a Canadian treasure.”

— Frank Rubalino Cadence

“On Saturday it was the Canadian group NOJO that, with special guest Don Byron, delivered a pleasant surprise. The 10-piece NOJO traveled through the world of music, built numerous shelters for free improvisation, and was above all the sound carpet for Don Byron. NOJO and Don Byron hit you in the depths of your soul.”

— Rinus van der Hayden, Brabants Dagblad, Netherlands

“A standout record. Pick it up.”

— Brandt Reiter, All About Jazz, NYC

“The Toronto-based big band are neither a tradition-rooted or strictly avant-garde ensemble, and the balance of adventurousness and accessibility is the fine-line tightrope they need to traverse. They’ve executed that feat with real skill over the course of a career that’s now in its tenth year.”

— Kerry Doole, The Jazz Report

Their present label is True North Records, and City of Neighbourhoods, received distribution in the United States through Rounder Records.

Awards and recognition

• 1996: winner of Juno Award, Best Contemporary Jazz Album, NOJO
• 1997: nomination for Juno Award, Best Contemporary Jazz Album, FireWater
• 1999: nomination for Juno Award, Best Contemporary Jazz Album, You Are Here (with Don Byron)
• 2003: nomination for Juno Award, Contemporary Jazz Album of the Year, Highwire
• 2005: nomination for Juno Award, Contemporary Jazz Album of the Year, City of Neighbourhoods (with Sam Rivers)

Discography

• 1995: NOJO (Au)
• 1996: FireWater (Au)
• 1998: You Are Here with Don Byron (True North)
• 2002: Highwire with Don Byron and Hugh Marsh (True North)
• 2004: City of Neighbourhoods with Sam Rivers (True North)
• 2010: Explores the Dark Side of the Moon (True North)

External links

• NOJOMusic.com official website