Nebraska Jazz Orchestra presents Elementary, My Dear Watson

The Nebraska Jazz Orchestra announces its 2026-2027 Season! Live from the Lincoln Marriott Cornhusker Hotel, 333 South 13th Street, Lincoln, NE.   The Nebraska Jazz Orchestra (NJO) was founded in 1975andis one of the Midwest’s premier big bands,celebrating more than 50 years of great performances.The NJO has toured Europe twice, including a 1997performance at the prestigious Montreux InternationalJazz Festival in Switzerland. In 2006, the NJO wasfeatured in a documentary by Nebraska EducationalTelevision entitledHard Times Swing, which followedthe development of territory swing bands that changedAmerican pop culture. The NJO was awarded the 2007Mayor’s Arts Award for Artistic Achievement in thePerforming Arts, and has performed with former TonightShow bandleader Doc Severinsen, guitarist JamesValentine of Maroon 5, and former David Lettermanbandleader Paul Shaffer at the Lied CenterforPerforming Arts. To date, the NJO has released eightrecordings, including their most recent CD celebrating the ensemble’s 40 th Anniversary entitled NJO 40 .   You will not want to miss this season! Single Tickets: Adults $28 Students $10   SCHEDULE OF EVENTS   Tuesday, October 13 | 7:30pm Elementary, My Dear WatsonFeaturing Bijon Watson, trumpet Grammy® Award-winning trumpeter BijonWatson’s career as a musician and educatorspansmore than 30 years and has taken himaround the globe to perform for audiencesworldwide.Born in Boston, Massachusetts,Bijon attended the New England Conservatoryof MusicPreparatory School and theUniversity of Southern California. He was alsoa member of the 1994Disney All-AmericanCollege Band and 1995 Disney/Grammy All-American College Jazz Band.His love for bigband jazz inspired him to become a student ofthe great bands of the past andpresent andhe has become a sought after and in-demandlead trumpet player that can be heardontelevision, in films, and award-winning recordings with iconic and world-class artists.   Thursday, Decemember 3 | 7:30pm Big Band TributeFeaturing The Blue Note Jazz Bandfrom Lincoln East High School The Blue Note Jazz Band is thevarsity,auditioned, jazz band atLincoln East High School.Directed by Tom Thorpe, theclass meets daily and performsfour concerts per year, at onejazz festival, and civicperformances as they arise   Tuesday, January 26 | 7:30pm Inside/OutsideFeaturing the 2027 Young Lions All-Star Band andBryan McCune, trumpet & electronics Cornetist/composer Bryan McCune grew up in Lincoln,Nebraska. Inspired by his father, acclaimed Nebraskatrumpeter and bandleader Mac McCune, he took upthe trumpet in grade school.In college in the late 70she played with the UNL Lab Band (in a trumpet sectionthat included the likes of Dana Stevens, BrianGrasmick, and Dean Haist!) under the direction ofRandy Snyder, followed by Tom Larson. He hasperformed over the years as a leader and sideman ingroups based in Lincoln and Omaha, the Washington-Baltimore area, New York City, and his current home inthe Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina area.His first jazzband,“Orpheus,”included John Scofield, Andy Hall,Tom Larson, Bill Wimmer, and Dana Weary and playedmemorable spots in Lincoln such as McGuffey’s,Jesse’s, and the Zoo.In recent years,McCune’s(nearly) annual Capital Jazz Series shows,“Bryan McCune & Friends,”have included a rotatingcast of Lincoln/Omaha jazz luminaries.   Tuesday, May 11 | 7:30pm The Bugs that Ate LincolnFeaturing the 2027 Young Jazz Artist Winner andThe Lightning Bugs The Lightning Bugs are a popular jazz triospecializing in“Moonbeam Swing.”The band’sname is borrowed from the title of the popmusic classic,“Glow Worm.”Smooth vocalharmonies in the Mills Brothers Tradition arethe hallmark of a Lightning Bugs show. TheBugs’repertoire features jazz and popstandards from the 30s and 40s when the bigbands were blowing and the dance floors werecrowded.The Lightning Bugs came into being in 1987 when Reynold Peterson was asked to put togethera concert performance for the Lincoln Association of Traditional Arts. Since that first show, theirconcerts, club dates, and radio and television appearances have won them many friends andfans. The band has released four recordings:The Lightning Bugs, Bugology, Stretchin’Out, andGlow.  This concert will also feature the winner of the 2027 Young Jazz Artist competition!