Trumpeter/Music Director, Frank Vardaros founded the Ryles Jazz Orchestra in 1997, keeping in mind the great tradition of a house big band in a major jazz venue (i.e. the Village Vanguard Band, Thad Jones Mel Lewis, and Birdland Dream Band, to name a few). Throughout the year, the band performs with many acclaimed guest artists, most recently Arturo Sandoval, Slide Hampton, Bobby Shew, Bob Mintzer, Phil Wilson, Bill Watrous, Jon Faddis and the late Nick Brignola. The Ryles Jazz Orchestra has performed at the Boston Globe Jazz Festival, The Saratoga Springs Jazz Festival, The Newport Jazz Festival, and the JVC Jazz Festival at Carnegie Hall.