In 2007, NEA Jazz Master and Grammy Award winning trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis formed the Uptown Jazz Orchestra (UJO) for the purpose of keeping important jazz music traditions alive; such as riff-playing, spontaneous group improvisations, and collective New Orleans instrumental polyphony. At the time, Marsalis realized that the New Orleans music community was lacking the infusion of young homegrown talent outside of the great brass band tradition, and chose to form an orchestra that could present traditional, classic, and modern compositions with authenticity. Since that time, UJO has grown into one of the premier large ensembles in the world, releasing four CDs to critical acclaim, and touring locally, nationally, and internationally.

In 2008, Marsalis founded the educational program, “Swinging with the Cool School” (a soft introduction to jazz for hip tots and adults), which was used as an experimental form of music therapy at the New Orleans Children Hospital. The Cool School has since expanded to introduce live instrumental jazz to students around the country, with the intent of helping young people develop a relationship with music that has gradually disappeared from mainstream radio and media at large. Through these performances, UJO is able to introduce students (and adults) to the wide emotional range of instrumental music.

Since 2021, UJO has produced the annual Jazz at Congo Square Festival (JACS) to celebrate New Orleans culture by presenting live performances of musicians, poets, dancers, and Black Masking Indians to local and visiting audiences. JACS Festival also features local food, arts & craft vendors. Marsalis and the Uptown Jazz Orchestra plan to continue using the great legacy of American music to engage and hopefully inspire the younger generations for many years.

Trombones 
Delfeayo Marsalis 
Terrance Taplin
Ethan Santos 

Trumpets
John Gray
Andrew Baham
John Michael Bradford
Aurélien Barnes

Saxophones 
Roderick Paulin 
Scott Johnson 
Shaena Ryan Martin 
Khari Allen Lee
Orlando Gilbert 

Rhythm Section
Victor Campbell (piano)
Jarrel Allen (drums/percussion)
Jason Stewart (bass)

Patrick Smith (Audio Supervisor)

Delfeayo Marsalis, Artistic Director/Band Leader
An acclaimed, Grammy-winning producer, trombonist, composer, and NEA Jazz Master, Delfeayo Marsalis has also dedicated his prolific career to promoting music theatre and education. Marsalis has toured internationally with music legends such as Ray Charles, Art Blakey, Max Roach, Elvin Jones and Slide Hampton, as well as leading his own groups. At the age of 17, Marsalis began his career as a producer and has to date produced over 125 recordings, garnering one Grammy award and several nominations. In 2008, he formed the Uptown Jazz Orchestra, a highly entertaining ensemble that focuses on bringing the jazz party, all night long! Marsalis also formed the Uptown Music Theatre in 2000, a non-profit organization that empowers youth through musical theatre training. He has written sixteen musicals to date and composed over 100 songs that help introduce kids to jazz. He has reached over 10,000 students nationally with his Swinging with the Cool School jazz workshops. As a leader, Marsalis has released ten cds to critical acclaim. The latest, Crescent City Jewels, charted in the Jazz Week Radio charts top 10 for 8 weeks.

Terrance Taplin is a native New Orleanian who grew up surrounded by music. He is currently a long-standing member of the historic Treme Brass Band under the direction of Benny Jones, Sr., he is also a long-time staple in the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, and assists as the musical director for Delfeayo Marsalis’ Uptown Jazz Orchestra. Terrance lends his musical attributes in all genres to bands in and out of New Orleans, often on the international stage. Terrance has worked with Raphael Saadiq, of Tony Toni Tone and Lucy Pearl fame, and has performed with a variety of artists including: Stevie Wonder, Mick Jagger, New Edition, Charlie Wilson, Eddie Levert, Dave Matthews, John Legend, Jennifer Hudson, and Aaron Neville, to name a few. Terrance has performed at the Grammys, the Espy’s, the Soul Train Music Awards, and the BET Experience.Terrance lends his talents to many award-winning artist projects and is sought after for his versatility in music.

Ethan Santos is a Filipino-American multi-instrumentalist, bandleader, composer, arranger and educator from Fresno, CA. Ethan has lived in New Orleans for about two and a half years and has quickly became established in the scene, performing with the likes of Tank & the Bangas, Dumpstaphunk, Nicholas Payton, Leroy Jones, Trumpet Mafia, Delfeayo Marsalis & the Uptown Jazz Orchestra, the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, Tidal Wave Brass Band and Young Fellaz Brass Band. Notable performance venues include the Kennedy Center, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, DC Jazz Festival, Tahiti Soul Jazz Festival, JazzAscona, Tokyo TUC and Boston Calling. Beyond the stage, Ethan serves as an adjunct professor at Tulane University and teaches at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation and privately.

John Gray is a musician and educator born and raised in Baton Rouge. He is a longstanding member of The Michael Foster Project and The Uptown Jazz Orchestra and performs with various jazz and R&B groups in the South Louisiana region. John is also a veteran music educator and recipient of the Baton Rouge Symphony’s Teacher of the Year Award, The Liz Peters Master Teacher Award, and Louisiana Life Magazine’s Louisianian of the Year Award. In addition to his performing and teaching career, John is a member of several music and educational organizations, and serves on the boards of the Baton Rouge Blues Foundation, The Debose Music Foundation, and the Academic Distinction Fund. He currently works as an adjunct instructor at Southern University.

Andrew Baham has a number of accomplished performances, being a member of The Ellis Marsalis Quintet, Delfeayo Marsalis Sextet, Big Sam's Funky Nation, The Stooges Brass Band, Soul Rebels Brass Band, and more. He has produced albums for The Stooges Brass Band (It's About Time, Thursday Night House Party), Big Sam's Funky Nation' (King Of The Party, Evolution), Tonya Boyd-Cannon (of The Voice Season 8, Muzic Is Life), and arranging/ production credits with the Uptown Jazz Orchestra (Uptown In A Mardi Gras Day). Baham has recorded 3 solo albums (Introducing Andrew Baham, From Whence We Came, …And They Called It Love), and just released his single, ‘Let ‘Em Smell The Roses’. He has recorded with Gavin Degraw (Gavin DeGraw), Pretty Lights (A Color Map Of The Sun),The Original Tuxedo Jazz Band, the Soul Rebels Brass Band, The Stooges Brass Band, and Big Sam's Funky Nation. He has also written and recorded soundtracks for NCIS:New Orleans, ESPN, Rockstar Games, and more.

John Michael Bradford is a dynamic trumpeter, singer, band leader, composer, arranger and educator whose music has been sculpted by the spirit, sounds, and fate of his hometown, New Orleans. Drawing on the tradition of Black American Music, John Michael moves effortlessly through jazz, blues, funk, hip-hop, soul. In 2017 Bradford’s debut album “Something Old, Something New” was nominated for Best Contemporary Jazz album by Offbeat Magazine. He is currently on tour with PJ Morton, while maintaining his own group and playing shows around the world.

Aurélien Barnes is a New Orleans trumpeter, vocalist, and percussionist steeped in the tradition of the city. Born in 1995, he is part of the next generation of musicians carrying on the legacy and the culture of New Orleans music. Aurélien is the son of Bruce “Sunpie” Barnes, a renowned multi-instrumentalist and specialist in Blues, Zydeco, and Afro-Caribbean music. Currently, Aurélien plays with several bands in New Orleans and around the world including The Rumble Ft. Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr., Preservation Hall, the Palmetto Bug Stompers, and more. He has received three Grammy nominations in 2021, 2023, and 2024 respectively. He has performed and worked with a wide range of artists across several genres such as Nicholas Payton, Marcus King, Rebirth Brass band, Trombone Shorty, Boogie Trio, Dumpstaphunk, and Carlos Vives. In addition to his musical diversity Aurélien is a French citizen and speaks French, Spanish, and Portuguese fluently. As a member of the Northside Skull and Bone Gang, Aurélien also engages in the city’s rich, and spiritual black carnival traditions.

Roderick Paulin is one of the most soulful, versatile and accomplished saxophonists in New Orleans. As a native of the Crescent City, Roderick has amassed credits as a musical arranger, soloist, conductor on over 55 studio and live recordings that extends more than 35 years with iconic entertainers Allen Toussaint, Neville Brothers, Jimmy Buffet, Hot 8 Brass Band, Davell Crawford, Kermit Ruffins, Shane Theriot, Jon Cleary, John Boutte’, and Delfeayo Marsalis to name a few. National and International acts such as Maceo Parker, The Afghan Whigs, Dr. John, The Twilight Singers, John Legend, Raphael Saadiq, Maria Muldaur, The Temptations, The Dells, Aretha Franklin, Tony Toni Tone, and Branford Marsalis have benefited from that ‘special something’ that Roderick Paulin brings to music that pays homage to the musical masters of the past; yet Paulin makes his own indelible mark on any project he’s affiliated within any capacity he’s functioning in. Paulin’s body of work as an educator, musician, author, speaker, and businessman are undeniable making Roderick Paulin the embodiment of the spirit New Orleans artists are known for.

Scott Johnson is a New Orleans based saxophonist, bandleader, and music educator. In addition to his teaching duties, Scott has given masterclasses on common practices for successful band directing, as well as serving on several boards aimed at bridging the gap from college to careers in music education. He remains an active clinician and music educator in Mississippi, Texas, and the New Orleans area. In 2018, Scott headlined the P-Town Jazz Festival in Plano, TX, and in 2021, he headlined part one of the Alcorn Jazz Festival. He also has an Artist/Educator endorsement with Cannonball Saxophones.

Shaena Ryan Martin is a saxophonist, educator, composer, and arranger born and raised in Richmond, VA. She knew from a very young age that she loved music; one of her earliest memories is asking for a piano for Christmas at age four. One of her favorite childhood hobbies was learning her parents’ favorite music by ear on her keyboard. Shaena lives in Durham, NC, where she is a professor of music at her alma maters, Duke and NC Central Universities. In addition to performing with the Uptown Jazz Orchestra, she has performed with artists such as Harry Connick Jr., Nnenna Freelon, and The Count Basie Orchestra. Most recently, Shaena took part in a tribute to legendary pianist Yusuf Salim, performing in a big band with Gary Bartz and Chip Crawford. Shaena is currently working on original compositions and arrangements as well as writing a Woodwind Methods textbook.

Khari Allen Lee has arisen as one of the most-in-demand saxophonists, educators, composers, and multi-instrumentalists of his generation. He has released four albums as a leader and appeared on albums by Terence Blanchard, Dr. John, Bobby Rush and in the movie Green Book. As an educator, he has served as a faculty member at the University of New Orleans, Loyola University, and an extended tenure at the prestigious New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts (NOCCA). Lee was recently chosen to become the Auburn University Walt & Ginger Woltosz Endowed Professor of Practice and Director of Commercial Music, a position he now holds. He is also an artist endorser for Jody Jazz, P. Mauriat and Rovner.

Orlando Gilbert grew up in the city of New Orleans. He was surrounded by its rich culture and vibrant music scene, and heavily influenced by his father, John Gilbert, who was a cofounder of the Rebirth Brass Band. He immersed himself in the New Orleans sound by playing with legends such as Herlin Riley, Trombone Shorty, and countless others. He continued his studies at Berklee College of Music, played with the likes of Ralph Peterson Jr. and other jazz legends. Today, Orlando works with some of the greatest musicians New Orleans has to offer as well as leading his own project with his father.

Victor Campbell, an exceptionally talented pianist from Camagüey, Cuba, is renowned for his engaging style that blends virtuosity, whimsy, charisma, and technical skill. Starting piano at age five, he trained at Cuba’s National School of the Arts and has performed globally. His first visit to New Orleans in 2012, through an exchange program with the Louis Armstrong Summer Jazz Camp, was transformative, leading him to relocate to the city in 2019. Since then, Victor has passionately studied various New Orleans musical styles, seamlessly integrating them into his performances, which can range from blues solos to Cuban timba montunos and classical pieces. Esteemed pianist Chucho Valdés has predicted that Victor will revolutionize Cuban jazz piano.

Jarrel Allen started out playing music as a Trumpet player. After deciding he didn’t want that to be his instrument, he became fascinated with drums around 7 years old. From that moment on, he has been playing drums and has been fortunate enough to share the stage with the likes of people like Harry Connick Jr, Herbie Hancock and the various renowned musicians of New Orleans. Although he cherishes his music career and everything it has provided, boxing is another part of his life that he takes very seriously. Sometimes more seriously than music. He picked up boxing around the age of 14 and has been training with plans of pivoting from amateur boxing to professional boxing. His current goal is to express himself through both art forms, eventually releasing his own albums and competing professionally for all people to experience what he has to offer the world.

Jason Stewart started playing the double bass at the age of 17 in his hometown of New Orleans, Louisiana. He was introduced to Jazz music at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts where he studied with the great trumpeter and educator Clyde Kerr Jr. and master bassist Bill Huntington. During the 1990s he lived in and played gigs in New Orleans and then in 2000 he moved to New York city. From 2007-2013 he studied with master bassist Ron Carter. In addition, he received an Artist Diploma from the Juilliard school of music in 2009-2011. He performed with the Ellis Marsalis trio, quartet, and quintet from 2007 to 2020. He has also performed over the years with the Marsalis family, Leroy Jones, Wendell Brunious, Steve Masakowski, Shannon Powell, Mulgrew Miller, Steve Nelson, Nicholas Payton, Terence Blanchard, Carl Allen, Adonis Rose, The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, and Henry Butler among others. He currently lives in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Patrick Smith (Audio Supervisor) is an Emmy and Grammy award-winning audio engineer. Smith is recognized as one of the top recording and mixing engineers in the world. He has recorded, mixed, Produced, and mastered over 100 award-winning recordings for legendary Grammy, Emmy, and Pulitzer winning artists such as Wynton Marsalis, Branford Marsalis, Curtis Mayfield, Les McCann, New Kids on the Block, Elvin Jones,Terence Blanchard, Ray Brown, Harry Connick, Jr., and Kenny Garrett. He has recorded and mixed film scores for Spike Lee, Sidney Lumet, and John Singleton. His television credits include projects for Fox, NPR, ESPN, HBO, NBC, ABC, PBS, Apple, Facebook, NETFLIX and several documentaries for the award-winning director/producer Ken Burns. He is also an accomplished live sound mixer who has mixed in iconic venues from Carnegie Hall to Sydney Hall.