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2024: Generation Gap Jazz Orchestra featuring Steven Feifke and Bijon Watson
2023: Delfeayo Marsalis and the Uptown Jazz Orchestra and Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis
2022: Ulysses Owens Jr. Big Band with special guest Marquis Hill
2021: A Virtual Festival with Tia Fuller, Mike Reed, Isaiah Spencer, and Dave Douglas
2020: DIVA Jazz Orchestra
2019: The Count Basie Orchestra with Joey DeFrancesco
2018: Delfeayo Marsalis and the Uptown Jazz Orchestra
2017: Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra
2016: Chris Potter Big Band
2015: The Dizzy-Gillespie All-Star Big Band with Jimmy Heath
2014: The Christian McBride Big Band
2013: The Count Basie Orchestra directed by Dennis Mackrel
2012: The Chicago Jazz Ensemble with Nicholas Payton
2011: The Mingus Big Band
2010: The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra
2009: The Count Basie Orchestra directed by Bill Hughes
2008: The Chicago Jazz Ensemble directed by Jon Faddis
2007: The Tito Puente All-Star Alumni Big Band with Eddie Palmieri
2006: Sherrie Maricle and the DIVA Jazz Orchestra
2005: The Gordon Goodwin Big Phat Band
2004: The Bob Mintzer Big Band
2003: The Count Basie Orchestra
2002: John Fedchock New York Big Band
2001: The Buddy Rich Big Band directed by Steve Marcus with Dave Weckl
2000: The Rob Parton Big Band with Byron Stripling
1999: The Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra with Lew Tabackin
1998: Sherrie Maricle and DIVA
1997: The Frank Mantooth Jazz Orchestra
1996: Rob McConnell & the Boss Brass
1995: The Count Basie Orchestra
1994: The Duke Ellington Orchestra directed by Mercer Ellington
1993: Maynard Ferguson with Rob Parton’s Jazztech Big Band
1992: The Woody Herman Orchestra
1991: The Artie Shaw Orchestra with Buddy DeFranco
1990: The Count Basie Orchestra
1989: Clark Terry and Louie Bellson with the NIU Jazz Ensemble
1988: The Tonight Show “All-Stars” with the Birch Creek “All Star” Big Band
1987: Dizzy Gillespie with the Jazz Members Big Band
1986: The Woody Herman Orchestra directed by Woody Herman
1985: The Airmen Of Note (US Air Force)
1984: The Buddy Childers Big Band and Jamey Aebersold
