2025: The Chicago Neighborhood Suite, conducted and arranged by Joe Clark

2024: Generation Gap Jazz Orchestra featuring Steven Feifke and Bijon Watso

2023: Delfeayo Marsalis and the Uptown Jazz Orchestra and Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis

2022: Ulysses Owens Jr. Big Band with special guest Marquis Hill                               

2021: A Virtual Festival with Tia Fuller, Mike Reed, Isaiah Spencer, and Dave Douglas

2020: DIVA Jazz Orchestra

2019: The Count Basie Orchestra with Joey DeFrancesco

2018: Delfeayo Marsalis and the Uptown Jazz Orchestra

2017: Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra

2016: Chris Potter Big Band

2015: The Dizzy-Gillespie All-Star Big Band with Jimmy Heath

2014: The Christian McBride Big Band

2013: The Count Basie Orchestra directed by Dennis Mackrel

2012: The Chicago Jazz Ensemble with Nicholas Payton        

2011: The Mingus Big Band

2010: The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra

2009: The Count Basie Orchestra directed by Bill Hughes

2008: The Chicago Jazz Ensemble directed by Jon Faddis

2007: The Tito Puente All-Star Alumni Big Band with Eddie Palmieri

2006: Sherrie Maricle and the DIVA Jazz Orchestra      

2005: The Gordon Goodwin Big Phat Band

2004: The Bob Mintzer Big Band

2003: The Count Basie Orchestra

2002: John Fedchock New York Big Band

2001: The Buddy Rich Big Band directed by Steve Marcus with Dave Weckl

2000: The Rob Parton Big Band with Byron Stripling

1999: The Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra with Lew Tabackin

1998: Sherrie Maricle and DIVA

1997: The Frank Mantooth Jazz Orchestra

1996: Rob McConnell & the Boss Brass

1995: The Count Basie Orchestra

1994: The Duke Ellington Orchestra directed by Mercer Ellington

1993: Maynard Ferguson with Rob Parton’s Jazztech Big Band

1992: The Woody Herman Orchestra

1991: The Artie Shaw Orchestra with Buddy DeFranco 

1990: The Count Basie Orchestra

1989: Clark Terry and Louie Bellson with the NIU Jazz Ensemble

1988: The Tonight Show “All-Stars” with the Birch Creek “All Star” Big Band

1987: Dizzy Gillespie with the Jazz Members Big Band           

1986: The Woody Herman Orchestra directed by Woody Herman

1985: The Airmen Of Note (US Air Force)

1984: The Buddy Childers Big Band and Jamey Aebersold