October 16, 2012 – New Orleans, LA:  Irvin Mayfield and the New Orleans Jazz Institute (NOJI), a partnership between the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra (NOJO) and the University of New Orleans (UNO), have announced the launch of their sixth NOJI Masters Series, a celebration of popular music.

NOJI will host weekly premieres at Irvin Mayfield’s Jazz Playhouse, in addition to community performances at the New Orleans Mint Performing Arts Center and other local venues. NOJI will also host a combined performance at UNO and a combined Master Class. Fall 2012 partners include NOLA.com and the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts. NOJI Masters Series is #5 of The NOJO 10, a series of unique Jazz events celebrating NOJO’s 10^th anniversary.

“A mission of both NOJO and NOJI is to celebrate high-level art. By honoring these popular music icons and legends with original Jazz music, we are able to demonstrate the relationship between different forms of music and art in a unique and significant way,” said Irvin Mayfield, Grammy Award-winning trumpeter and Director of the New Orleans Jazz Institute.

Dr. Susan Krantz, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at UNO, remarked, "This year's commissions promise to be among our most exciting ever, especially as they are sure to draw the attention of pop music lovers to Jazz. Personally, I can imagine no better entertainment than listening to a great Jazz guitarist and his band pay tribute to The Grateful Dead, or a Jazz piano remind me of The Beatles' roots in R and B, or a powerful Sax reinterpret the soulful pop of Stevie Wonder."

The commissioned UNO professors include Steve Masakowski, the Coca-Cola Endowed Chair and Director of Jazz Studies; and NOJO members Victor Atkins, the Graduate Coordinator of the Department of Music, and Ed Petersen, Associate Chair of the Department of Music and Coordinator of Jazz Studies. NOJI is under the combined direction of: Dr. Susan Krantz, Professor and Dean of the UNO College of Liberal Arts; Irvin Mayfield, Director of The New Orleans Jazz Institute; Dr. Corey Hebert, Chairman of The New Orleans Jazz Institute Advisory Board; Ronald Markham, President and CEO of The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra; and Bivian “Sonny” Lee, Director of Programming for The New Orleans Jazz Institute.

ABOUT NOJI: Founded in 2008, The New Orleans Jazz Institute links UNO’s strengths in Jazz education with NOJO’s professional and performance expertise. NOJI serves to promote creative excellence and best practices in Jazz composition, performance, scholarship, importation, exportation and education. For more information, please visit www.neworleansjazzinstitute.com.

ABOUT NOJO: The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra is a performing-arts organization whose goal is to strengthen the business of Jazz through performances, touring, recordings, education and media platforms. Founded in 2002 by trumpeter, composer, arranger and bandleader Irvin Mayfield, NOJO's mission is to inspire freedom and culture in the individual and the global community by creating authentic, engaging Jazz experiences, while celebrating the origins and transforming the future of Jazz. For more information, please visit www.TheNOJO.com.

FALL 2012 NOJI MASTERS SERIES SCHEDULE

Steve Masakowski: A Jazz Tribute to the Grateful Dead

Tuesday, October 16, 8:00pm

Official Premiere: Irvin Mayfield's Jazz Playhouse

Royal Sonesta Hotel, 300 Bourbon Street

Thursday, October 25, 1:00-2:00pm

Community Performance in partnership with the New Orleans Jazz National Historic Park

New Orleans Mint Performing Arts Center, 400 Esplanade Avenue

Sunday, October 28, 6:30-7:30pm

Community Performance: Bacchanal Wine, 600 Poland Avenue

Victor Atkins: A Jazz Tribute to The Beatles

Tuesday, October 23, 1:00-2:00pm

Community Performance in partnership with the New Orleans Jazz National Historic Park

New Orleans Mint Performing Arts Center, 400 Esplanade Avenue

Tuesday, October 23, 8:00pm

Official Premiere: Irvin Mayfield's Jazz Playhouse

Royal Sonesta Hotel, 300 Bourbon Street

Friday, November 2, 6:00-7:00pm

Community Performance: Sound Cafe, 2700 Chartres Street

Ed Petersen: A Jazz Tribute to Stevie Wonder

Wednesday, October 24, 2:00-3:00pm

Community Performance in partnership with the New Orleans Jazz National Historic Park

New Orleans Mint Performing Arts Center, 400 Esplanade Avenue

Friday, October 26, 7:30-9:00pm

Community Performance: The Prime Example, 1909 N. Broad Street

Tuesday, October 30, 8:00pm

Official Premiere: Irvin Mayfield's Jazz Playhouse

Royal Sonesta Hotel, 300 Bourbon Street

Combined Performances

Wednesday, October 24, 7:00pm

The Sandbar at the Cove, The University of New Orleans Lakefront Campus

*Free to the UNO community, $5 cover for general public

Thursday, October 25, 5:30-7:00pm

Rooftop of the Rice Mill Lofts, 522 Montegut Street

In partnership with NOLA.com and The New Orleans Center for Creative Arts

Friday, October 26, Time & Location TBA

Combined Master Class

*NOJI Masters Series performances are free and open to the public.