The Metropolitan Jazz Octet Story
History
Metropolitan Jazz Octet is the reawakening of a music group originally founded in the 1950’s by Chicago saxophonist and arranger Tom Hilliard.
In 2011, Tom gifted his entire MJO library to his former DePaul University School of Music students Jim Gailloreto and John Kornegay, passing on the torch to the next generation.
Soon after an idea was born: To reshape the ensemble for the 21st Century.
Tom Hilliard, Founder
From the late 1950's through the mid 80's, MJO founder Tom Hilliard wrote many of the octets arrangements and original compositions. He also collaborated with Chicago’s first call arrangers and studio musicians. Together they created the library of more than 150 charts. In 1959, Metropolitan Jazz Octet recorded an album on the Argo label titled “The Legend of Bix,” with Hilliard's arrangements in a tribute to famed 1920's cornetist and composer Bix Beiderbecke. As a professor at De Paul University School of Music, Tom taught three current members of MJO, to whom he bequeathed his complete library, passing the torch to the next generation.
Present Day
"...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
Artistic Team
Jim Gailloreto is MJO’s Artistic Director. He has performed with the Chicago Jazz Ensemble, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Chamber Musicians, Lyric Opera and Fulcrum Point New Music Project. Jim has arranged and performed with Fred Hersch, Patricia Barber, John McLean, Grazyna Auguscik, and many more. His string arrangements can be heard on Kurt Elling's Grammy award winning “Dedicated to You”. In addition to MJO, Jim has recorded several albums as a a solo artist and with his ensembles Split Decision and Jim Gailloreto’s Jazz String Quintet. He is artist and faculty at Roosevelt University Chicago College of Performing Arts.
Jim Gailloreto
John Kornegay is MJO’s lead arranger. He has a rich career as a performer, composer and arranger. He has performed with legends like Tony Bennett, Doc Severinsen, Bernadette Peters and Chita Rivera. He has written for Johnny Frigo on the Tonight Show, the Chicago Sinfonietta, Purdue University Choirs, and composed and orchestrated the Academy Award-nominated Holocaust documentary, “Eyewitness”.
John Kornegay
John McCortney is a recording engineer and recording studio owner whose career began in 1976. Since 1990, He has been the President and Chief Engineer of AirWave Recording Studios, Inc. John has worked with Tom Waits, Gregg Allman, Charlie Musselwhite, Honey Boy Edwards, Bill Monroe, Ken Vandermark, members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Elmhurst Symphony, the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, the Apollo Chorus, the William Ferris Chorale and the Newberry Consort.
John McCortney
More
Metropolitan Jazz Octet has performed at both the Chicago and Hyde Park Jazz Festivals. Their second release, It’s Too Hot for Words, was voted 'Best Jazz Album' by the Chicago Tribune. They have played to sold-out audiences at venues such as City Winery Chicago, Evanston SPACE, The Green Mill, Studio 5, Hey Nonny, Fulton Street Collective, and the legendary Jazz Showcase. Their three recordings have been critically acclaimed by Jazz Times, Downbeat, Chicago Jazz Magazine, and Chicago Tribune.
The group is comprised of several of Chicago’s eclectically talented creative artists. Their collective history helps shape the the ensemble’s trajectory and mission. Through creating works and collaborations with distinguished guest artists, MJO has garnered critical acclaim and lavish praise from the jazz community.
Metropolitan Jazz Octet has recorded and released three albums. The Road to Your Place (self-released, 2015) featured all original compositions. It’s Too Hot for Words (Delmark Records, 2019) featured vocalist Dee Alexander in a tribute to the legendary Billie Holiday. The Bowie Project (Origin Records, 2023) partnered with critically acclaimed singer Paul Marinaro in an examination of the songs of David Bowie, presenting universal themes that resonate throughout the ages: love, loss, disillusionment, division and trying to find hope in a changing and unfamiliar landscape.
MJO will release their fourth album, Jazz Unearthed, in spring of 2026. The project, drawn from unreleased arrangements in Tom Hilliard’s library, engages in musical archeology, presenting a set of miniature masterpieces that shine light on long-lost styles of Jazz from the 1950s.
Jazz Artists Resource (JAR) is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization located in Chicago, Illinois. Your tax deductible donations help create, curate, and present jazz music in all its forms.
JAR also works side by side with students on specially tailored mentoring programs, including the Emerging Jazz Arranger Scholarship (EJAS).
Metropolitan Jazz Octet’s musical mission is made possible with your support.
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