The Stanford Jazz Orchestra is a student music ensemble committed to keeping the tradition of big band jazz alive at Stanford. It rehearses three times a week and performs once a quarter in the Bing Concert Hall.
Each concert features a special guest artist playing with the band. SJO has performed with Louie Bellson, Bob Florence, James Moody, Cedar Walton, Bobby Hutcherson, Jon Faddis, Eddie Henderson, Jimmy Heath, Billy Higgins, Jeff Clayton, Dave Douglas, Charles McPherson, Ingrid Jenson, Marvin Stamm, Carl Allen, Roscoe Mitchell, and many others.
Notable alumni of the group include Tom Harrell, Ray Drummond, Larry Grenadier, and two time Emmy winner Glen Daum.
Fred Berry is the director of the Stanford Jazz Orchestra and is a professor of Jazz Studies at Stanford University.
He earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Music from Southern Illinois University and later did additional graduate work at Stanford. Prior to teaching at Stanford, he was the director of the jazz program at the College of San Mateo.
A prolific trumpet player, Berry has performed with Count Basie, McCoy Tyner, Benny Carter, Joe Henderson, Dizzy Gillespie, Lou Rawls, Lionel Hampton and continues to play around the Bay Area.