Formed in 1988 as an outlet for the big band arranging of McMurdo, while studying with composer/arranger Bob Brookmeyer in New York City, the Dave McMurdo Jazz Orchestra soon grew to include the arrangements of other bandmembers, plus several notable contributions from arrangers outside the band. Stylistically, the music the DMJO performs is diverse; ranging in character from hard-swinging music associated with Count Basie to the dark, thickly textured writing style of Gil Evans. Following its inception, the DMJO recorded their first album for Jazz Alliance, which was nominated for a Juno Award in 1991. Following that release, the orchestra embarked on a 15-day, 5-city tour of the former U.S.S.R.. The DMJO made their U.S. debut in Boston in 1994, performing the closing concert for the International Association of Jazz Educators. Also in 1994, the orchestra was named Canada's Big Band Of The Year by Jazz Report magazine. ~ Dan Cross