NYJO Blueprint Orchestra at PizzaExpress Jazz Club (Soho)

October 5, 2026
6:30 pm
Musical Director Olivia Murphy stands with her back to the camera, she is conducting the Blueprint Orchestra rehearsal.

Join us on Monday 5th October to experience NYJO Blueprint Orchestra’s bold programme celebrating two of the most influential figures in big band jazz, Toshiko Akiyoshi and Duke Ellington.

Audiences can expect to hear ‘Far East Suite’, the renowned and brilliant masterpiece by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. The music was primarily inspired by the Ellington Orchestra’s tours across Asia in 1963 and 1964 and is a reflective, evocative, and powerful musical tour through the “East allowing space to feature the amazing improvisers within the ensemble.

The band will also be exploring the work of Toshiko Akiyoshi – particularly compositions from the album “March of The Tadpoles”, the fifth studio recording of the Toshiko Akiyoshi/Lew Tabackin Big Band.

Led by Musical Director Olivia Murphy, NYJO Blueprint Orchestra reimagines NYJO’s big band model through consistent rehearsal, creative ambition, and a focussed commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. Designed to support musicians in developing high-level large ensemble skills, the programme creates a forward-looking artistic context that reflects today’s jazz landscape.

Event details

Event date:
October 5, 2026

Event time:
6:30 pm

PizzaExpress Live, 10 Dean Street, London W1D 3RW

Tickets
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NYJO Blueprint Orchestra

A new, forward-looking big band programme for NYJO Emerging Professional musicians.

Find out more about getting involved, upcoming gigs and how you can support.

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Musical Director Olivia Murphy stands with her back to the camera, she is conducting the Blueprint Orchestra rehearsal.

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