The New School Studio Orchestra BLUE NOTE All Stars with James Francies and Joel Ross at John L. Tishman Auditorium

Blue Note All-Stars features special guests, pianist James Francies, and vibraphonist Joel Ross, both faculty and alum of the School of Jazz & Contemporary Music at The New School!

Join The New School Studio Orchestra for this unforgettable jam!

Free with registration while seats last.

Conducted by Keller Coker, The New School Studio Orchestra (NSSO) is comprised of students from the School of Jazz and Contemporary Music and Mannes School of Music, often with guest artists, performing music from a wide variety of genres including jazz, soul, pop, and improvised music.

The thrilling U.S. premiere of Carla Bley’s Escalator Over the Hill was the epic close to last season. The New York Times described the musicians as playing with “rattling intensity," adding "The sound seemed to shudder like a pot about to blow its lid." All About Jazz stated, "Presenting a cherished '70s cult jazz-rock album in its U.S. performance debut was a highwire act of artistic bravery, yet the New School ensemble triumphed over the odds. This was very much a student performance, even if its stellar standard forced you to frequently—and delightedly—remind yourself of that improbable fact." And in the words of UK Jazz News: “The student band impressively embodied Bley’s gonzo vision. This was a worthy and deeply enjoyable ride on Escalator Over the Hill, and a historic moment to boot.”

The 2025/2026 season offers a remarkable lineup, beginning with the inimitable 1930s Radio Night. The Grammy-winning Fandango at the Wall features The New School’s Arturo O’Farrill, his Afro Latin Jazz Octet, and The Conga Patria Son Jarocho Collective. The second annual NSSO Holiday Swing ushers in the holiday season in December, featuring music from Ella Fitzgerald’s beloved Christmas albums and Jazz at Lincoln Center holiday arrangements, with special guest Brianna Thomas. March brings the Blue Note Records All Stars, featuring faculty and alum, James Francies and Joel Ross. The season culminates in May with Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – A Motown Tribute, with special guests to be announced, featuring music by The Temptations, The Four Tops, Martha and the Vandellas, Marvin Gaye, and more. 

Presented by the College of Performing Arts at The New School.