The LMR Jazz Orchestra returns to Festival Napa Valley with A Vanguard Legacy, a tribute to the groundbreaking Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, whose weekly performances at New York’s Village Vanguard reshaped modern big-band jazz.

The evening is led by trumpet legend Jon Faddis, who joins the orchestra as both guest conductor and featured soloist. Faddis served as lead trumpeter of the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra in the early 1970s beginning at just 18, bringing a direct and vibrant link to the ensemble’s storied history. Vocalist Jamie Davis appears in the celebrated baritone role long associated with Joe Williams, revisiting repertoire from the orchestra’s landmark recordings.

From the driving pulse of “Low Down” to the enduring lyricism of “A Child Is Born,” the program highlights the sophistication, swing, and daring that defined a jazz institution, and keeps its spirit very much alive.

Wine, beer, and non-alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase from CIA at Copia. Outside food and beverages not permitted.