A community project celebrating diverse musicians.
What is Orchestra Jammbo’laya?
Orchestra Jammbo’laya (O.Jamm) is a community project comprised of a diverse group of young musicians, local artists and teachers in an exploration of western musical instruments set to the African Diaspora aesthetics of music. This group is created by community partnerships between the Suzuki Academy of Kalamazoo, the Helen L. Fox Gospel Music Center, Djembe Yaru and local artists and composers led by Jordan Hamilton, Nataniel Waller and Jacob Olbrot.
O.Jamm is open to all, but in particular invites Black and underserved youth to play and perform music that investigates the natural synergy between a variety of musical traditions. These young musicians will have space to refine their skills and showcase music from the rich body of works by Black composers from Africa, North America, and the Caribbean; music that has gone mostly unnoticed by local and mainstream orchestral groups.
Black people are historically under-represented among instrumental music composers, players, and their audiences. This is a project that is sorely needed in our community, and can serve as a model for establishing diversity, representation, fostering understanding, and encouraging exploration for players and audience members alike.
Outdoor and virtual performances are being planned for the 2021-2022 performance season.
2021 Concert Series
Food is Like music
for the pallet, and Jammbo’laya is multicultural food. It brings the whole world together in celebration of life.
Jambolaya
Jambolaya is a meal originating from Louisiana. It resonates with warmth, community, the melting pot, and is the result of coming together: mixing seafood, sausage, chicken, rice and saffron from Asia, with spices from all over the world. Jambalaya is also the coming together of cultures — from the Creoles of the Caribbean, to the Cajuns of Canada, Africans from the motherland as well as African Americans, and Europeans from France, Spain, and other Mediterranean countries.
Jambo
Hello in Swahili, the most commonly spoken language in Africa. “Hello” opens doors and hearts and welcomes everyone into a world of peace, love, and caring.
Jamm
Peace in Wolof, one of the major languages spoken in West Africa, the homeland of most enslaved Africans brought to the Americas and the Caribbean.
Jamming
Jamming to the music, be it Gospel, R&B, soul or rap music, reminds us of the transformation through struggle and suffering of the African American people from shackles to the fantastic sounds we all enjoy today.
We hope you will join us in our adventure!
Apply for the ensemble.
Donate to our efforts to bring the world together through music.
Contact us with questions or comments.