Losing their founder to the military couldn’t stop a local jazz band from marching ahead. The Northwest Jazz Orchestra, a group of professional musicians and advanced players, present what members hope will be the first of regular concerts this Sunday. Joel Heredia, who formerly was music director at New Life Christian Fellowship and taught at Lower Columbia College, formed the group in 2006.

When Heredia left town recently to join a military musical group, players couldn’t stand to see the jazz ensemble fade away. The band has a tremendous esprit and a great attitude, said David Taylor, who plays saxophone. Dave Klander, who teaches band at R.A. Long High School, took over leading the Jazz Orchestra. Everybody is experienced jazz musicians, Klander said. This is not a novice group or a learning group. Taylor called big band jazz a highly specialized art and discipline.

We’re getting people like that. It’s very exciting. He himself is retired from the Seattle Symphony, where he normally played bassoon but switched to sax when needed. The Jazz Orchestra played as part of a spring concert at the Columbia Theatre, but its Sunday show is the first on its own. Taylor said the concert repertoire includes big band jazz arrangements from the past 20 to 30 years. Nearly all of it is Christmas music. In traditional big band style, Klander will kick off the piece.

Then I sit down and play baritone saxophone. Members hope to do three concerts a year in auditoriums when they can afford the rental. The group is made up of: Saxophones: David Taylor, Kathy Welch, Tom Ladoucer, Harvey Redmond, Dave Klander.