Julia Keefe Indigenous Big Band

The Julia Keefe Indigenous Big Band (JKIBB) is an ensemble of Native and Indigenous jazz musicians from across Indian Country. Performing pieces from their under-appreciated predecessors in jazz, like Mildred Bailey (Coeur dAlene) and Jim Pepper (Kaw/Mvskoke), alongside works by contemporary Indigenous composers, the band spotlights a vibrant, long-standing tradition of Indigenous improvised music today. Led by the celebrated vocalist and luminary Julia Keefe (Nez Perce), the ensemble brings charisma, passion, and purpose to every stage, leaving audiences both inspired and educated. Premiering at Washington Center for the Performing Arts in 2022, the band quickly gained a reputation for deepening and challenging our understanding of the uniquely American art form known as jazz. JKIBB features a whos who of Indigenous bandleaders today, including Mali Obomsawin (Odanak Abenaki), Delbert Anderson (Din), Chantil Dukart (Tsimshian), and Ed Littlefield (Tlingit) among others.