"...the truest measure of artistic respect doesn’t lie in repeating previous innovations. It comes from building upon and extending those concepts… not only in the use of updated harmonies and more sophisticated rhythms, but also… expanding the range of colors and textures..." 

Neil Tesser

Logo of the Metropolitan Jazz Octet with the words 'metropolitan jazz octet' in bold, stylized font, with the 'j' in yellow.
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UPCOMING PERFORMANCE

May 22, 2026  at the 
Studio5 Performing Arts Center

Jazz Unearthed :
The 1950’s Music of Tom Hilliard

Metropolitan Jazz Octet Metropolitan Jazz Octet presents Jazz Unearthed — a journey of jazz archaeology. Step into a sonic time capsule. MJO brings to life a collection of miniature masterpieces by founder Tom Hilliard. This program showcases previously unreleased works from his early 1950s catalog — music that revives long-lost styles with playful elegance, brilliant craftsmanship, and unmistakable personality.

An orchestra of musicians in a dimly lit room with smoky atmosphere, with a man and woman in the foreground sharing a moment.
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EMERGING

JAZZ

ARRANGER

SCHOLARSHIP

Two young men smiling at the camera indoors with a brick wall background.

Awardees John Wambach and Trevor Dean Stewart

In the spring of 2025, Metropolitan Jazz Octet announced the Emerging Jazz Arranger Scholarship (EJAS) award in conjunction with DePaul University School of Music. In the spirit of Tom Hilliard's ardent dedication to the jazz octet, the MJO scholarship program provided financial support for the creation, rehearsal, recording, and production of original music specifically tailored for the jazz octet format. MJO is proud to present our 2025 EJAS Awardee John Wambach and Trevor Dean Stewart

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INSTAGRAM

ICYMI... because we did! Just ran across this terrific 2023 review of our album "The Bowie Project." Thanks #chalkedupreviews! @paulmarinaro @origin_records #albumreview #jazz #thebowieproject
Musician, educator, composer and arranger Tom Hilliard (on the far left in this session photo) founded The Metropolitan Jazz Octet in the 1950's. Now, we've gone back to that era to excavate never recorded arrangements from Hilliard's songbook, bring
MJO returns with Jazz Unearthed, a journey of jazz archaeology. Step into a sonic time capsule when MJO brings to life a collection of miniature masterpieces by founder Tom Hilliard, showcasing previously unreleased works from his early 1950s catalog
Pianist Ben Lewis will be featured with Metropolitan Jazz Octet on Saturday Feb. 21 at Constellation Chicago when we reimagine two of Chopin’s celebrated piano works for the Chopin In The City festival. Through contemporary, masterful treatment
MJO is looking forward to performing at the Chopin IN The City Festival at Constellation Chicago on February 21. We're collaborating with acclaimed Chicago pianist Ben Lewis to reimagine two of Chopin’s iconic piano works. Through contemporary
MJO's origins lie with saxophonist, composer and educator Tom Hilliard, who founded the original MJO in the 1950's. Three of the founding members of the reborn MJO were students of Tom, and when he passed away he bequeathed his complete library to th
Vibraphonist Mike Freeman's artistry was crucial to the sound we achieved on "The Bowie Project." We're so happy that he's bringing his New York City-based Latin Jazz project ZonaVibe to Chicago's Jazz Showcase next weekend and that he's in
Pianist Bob Sutter is a founding member of the reimagined MJO who, along with Jim Gailloreto and John Kornegay, were students of Tom Hilliard, director of the original MJO back in the 1950’s, whose music we’ll be exploring at “Jazz
MJO presents “Jazz Unearthed,” an act of musical archeology that reveals a set of miniature masterpieces that shine light on long-lost styles of Jazz from the 1950s, each composition embodying playful elegance, brilliant craftsmanship, an
We're back with the incomparable Dee Alexander May 25 at the cozy confines of Evanston SPACE performing selections from our critically acclaimed Billie Holiday tribute album "It's Too Hot For Words" along with brand new material arranged es