Onstage company
Documented collaborators
The Blackbird Society Orchestra is a cornerstone of authentic early jazz in the Tri-State area. Founded in 1997 by Richard Barnes, this troupe has built a reputation as the premier note-for-note recreator of 1920s and 1930s jazz, drawing from hundreds of vintage stock charts and arrangements dating from 1917 through 1929. Their meticulous approach captures the spirit, swing, and instrumentation of the era, delivering performances that feel like a living history lesson with every note.