Reno Jazz Orchestra Announces Summer Concerts

The Reno Jazz Orchestra will present two themed summer concerts in Reno and Lake Tahoe: A Jazz/Rock Odyssey in July and A Tribute to George Benson in August.

A Jazz/Rock Odyssey will be performed July 28 at Sand Harbor State Park in Incline Village, Nevada at 7:30 pm and July 29 at the Robert Z. Hawkins Amphitheater at Bartley Ranch Regional Park in Reno at 7:00 pm.

The orchestra will return in August with A Tribute to George Benson, scheduled for Aug. 23 at 4 p.m. at the University of Nevada’s Nightingale Concert Hall in Reno and Aug. 24 at 7:30 p.m. at Sand Harbor State Park in Incline Village, NV.

Singer Matt Mauser will join the 17-piece orchestra for A Jazz/Rock Odyssey, a program that moves from swing to retro horn-driven music to classic rock.

“From Frank Sinatra’s smooth swagger to Elvis’ rock ‘n’ roll grooves, and Tom Jones’ powerhouse hits, Matt Mauser brings the music of these unforgettable artists to life through dynamic performances that entertain audiences across every generation,” Music Director Greg Johnson said.

Johnson said Mauser brings both crooner and rock sensibilities to the performance.

“There are very few entertainers who can traverse the vocal versatility terrain in the manner Matt can,” Johnson said. “Without missing a beat, he can casually croon Sinatra’s ‘Fly Me to the Moon,’ then roll into a toe-tapping rendition of Johnny Cash’s ‘Folsom Prison Blues.'”

For A Tribute to George Benson, guitarist Colin Cook and vocalist Kyle Rea will perform with the orchestra at both concerts. The program will celebrate Benson’s blend of jazz and R&B with selections including “Breezin’,” “Give Me the Night,” “This Masquerade,” “Feel Like Makin’ Love” and “Never Give Up on a Good Thing.”

“Both concerts will feature big band classics, smooth grooves and iconic hits celebrating one of music’s most influential artists,” said Dr. Greg Johnson, music director of the Reno Jazz Orchestra.                                     

Cook, a Los Angeles-based guitarist, is a member of the Stanley Clarke Band and appears on Clarke’s forthcoming 2026 album Last Train to Sanity. He has performed in more than 20 countries and has appeared at the Newport Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival and NPR’s Tiny Desk series. He also is an instructor for the music-learning platform Rocksmith.

Rea studied opera, jazz and piano at the University of Nevada, Reno, and leads the 25-piece Kyle Rea Orchestra. He has headlined concerts at Reno’s Artown Festival, performed at private events and appeared with the Reno Jazz Orchestra.

Founded in 1997, the Reno Jazz Orchestra continues a big band tradition shaped by musicians who performed with artists including Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley and Luciano Pavarotti. The orchestra says its mission is to create big band performances featuring jazz standards, contemporary works and selections from the Great American Songbook.