Julia Keefe Indigenous Big Band

For hundreds of years, songs have been the vessels for stories, lessons, and prayers for the Indigenous peoples of the Americas. One of the newest additions to this world is the Julia Keefe Indigenous Big Band, which presented its very first concert in 2022, focusing on reimagined traditional melodies made famous by Indigenous jazz musicians from the past, like singer Mildred Bailey (Coeur d’Alene) and saxophonist Jim Pepper (Kaw/Mvskoke), as well as new works that push the genre forward.

Led by the celebrated vocalist Julia Keefe (Nez Perce), this 16-piece ensemble of Native musicians highlights an often overlooked but rich history of Indigenous bands that existed on reservations across the country in the early 20th century, and it both deepens and challenges our understanding of the “uniquely American” art form known as jazz. The group brings charisma, passion, and purpose to every performance, shining a spotlight on the vibrant tradition of Indigenous improvised music.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Jazz speaks for life. The Blues tell the story of life’s difficulties… and if you think for a moment, you will realize that they take the hardest realities of life and put them into music, only to come out with some new hope or sense of triumph.”

The Julia Keefe Indigenous Big Band embodies this spirit of triumph and social justice. For too long, the contributions of Native musicians to the American “Civil Rights” landscape have been sidelined