The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra was founded in December 2002 by its current artistic director, Irvin Mayfield - a Grammy nominated and Billboard Award winning trumpeter and composer, who is also the officially appointed Cultural Ambassador for the City of New Orleans. The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra performs and presents educational programs that draw upon the rich musical and cultural traditions of ‘the birthplace of jazz,’ where the group is based. "Book One," the group’s World Village debut, is a showcase of Irvin Mayfield’s original compositions for big band and features cameos by rising vocalist Johnaye Kendrick, R & B singer John Boutte and a singing/scatting turn by orchestra member Leon ‘Chocolate’ Brown.