THE PHILADELPHIA JAZZ ORCHESTRA IS AN ALL STAR BIG BAND COMPRISED OF THE BEST HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE JAZZ MUSICIANS IN THE PHILADELPHIA AND NEW JERSEY REGION. IN ADDITION TO PERFORMANCES BOTH IN THE UNITED STATES AND EUROPE, PJO OFFERS EDUCATIONAL JAZZ CAMPS FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS!

The Philadelphia Jazz Orchestra was founded in 2003 by Joe Bongiovi, Rob Reeve and Yorgo Papadakis. The concept behind the band was to keep motivated and talented students playing their instruments during the summer. The Band had no intentions of ever performing, just rehearsing. At the end of the summer, a few parents suggested a fund raising performance at a Pizza Hut in Buck's County, Pa so that Mr. Bongiovi could be reimbursed for the money he had spent on music. As the "great pizza gig" approached, the band was forced to come up with a name. After being put on the spot with about 30 seconds to think about it, Mr. Bongiovi gave the band the hideous name of "The Summer Swing Fling Big Band". This name would obviously be changed later.