For the 2025 Brisbane International Jazz Festival the JMI Jazz Orchestra will pay tribute to Duke Ellington by performing his New Orleans Suite in its entirety. The suite consists of 9 pieces of music, 5 of which were commissioned to be premiered at the inaugural New Orleans Jazz Festival in 1970, and 4 more pieces that were added for the studio recording of the album New Orleans Suite later that year.
This suite is one of Ellington’s last large works and showcases an artist whose nearly 60-year career traversed essentially the entire history of Jazz at this point. We can hear early blues, some of Ellington’s signature swing era style, and a jazz waltz. The flute and bass clarinet are deployed extensively, and we are reminded of Ellington’s long-running affinity for the warmth of the clarinet. There are the sounds of soul music, gospel and echoes of Hendrix (who died the same year) showing Ellington open-mindedness in moving with the musical times.
The album New Orleans Suite won the Grammy for Best Jazz Performance by a Big Band in 1971 and is a testament to Ellington’s assertion that “There are simply 2 kinds of music, good music and the other kind. The JMI Jazz Orchestra hopes you can join us for this special event and what is likely the first time this suite has been performed in Brisbane as part of this year’s BIJF.
Gig Details:
Monday 13th October 2025
$20 Entry (+GST & BF)
Doors open from 7:30pm
Music starts at 8pm
10 Exhibition St, Bowen Hills
ALL AGES (people under 18 need to be accompanied by a guardian)
Head to our Humanitix to purchase limited seated tickets
How do I purchase a ticket?
Tickets are being sold through Humanitix. Purchase limited seated tickets here. Due to JMI Live being an intimate space, we have a maximum number of guests allowed in the venue. We highly recommend it is best to get in early before tickets sell out.
What is JMI Live?
JMI Live presents live jazz in Brisbane every Thursday night from 8pm and a jam session after each gig. JMI Live is renowned for its intimate setting, providing the best opportunity to listen to live jazz in Brisbane. Just like a jazz club in New York, this venue is the ideal location for great jazz music, acoustics and atmosphere.
Location
JMI Live is located at 10 Exhibition Street, Bowen Hills.
Live streaming
All JMI Live concerts are live streamed to JMI’s YouTube account. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to access our free live streams.
Ticket Refund Policy
If you are experiencing flu-like symptoms and are unable to attend after having purchased a ticket, please contact the JMI office (07 3216 1110 or email play@jazz.qld.edu.au) as soon as possible during business hours (10AM-4PM) to let us know you won’t be able to attend. A full refund will be given if we are contacted prior to a performance. Refunds will not be processed if we are contacted after the gig.