Orchestre National de Jazz

Created in France in 1986 at the initiative of the Ministry of Culture, the Orchestre National de Jazz occupies the field of orchestral jazz and contemporary creation. Its operation is based on successive artistic directions that regularly redefine the ensemble’s size, writing and repertoire. The inaugural concert took place at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées under François Jeanneau, followed by the tenures of Antoine Hervé, Claude Barthélemy, Denis Badault, Laurent Cugny, Didier Levallet, Paolo Damiani, Franck Tortiller, Daniel Yvinec, Olivier Benoit, Frédéric Maurin and then Sylvaine Hélary. Across these periods, the orchestra has evolved its language between large ensemble, improvisation and written composition, and has intersected with chanson, progressive rock, European music and contemporary music. Its discography reflects these orientations with Orchestre National de Jazz 86 (1986), African Dream (1989), Close to Heaven (2005), Around Robert Wyatt (2009), Europa Paris (2014) and Ex Machina (2023). The Orchestre National de Jazz also develops transdisciplinary programmes, commissions works from composers and runs educational transmission projects, which makes it a unique institution in the French jazz landscape.