Founded almost 30 years ago by the late Vacaville trumpeter and music director Keith Stout, the Alive Music Orchestra (AMO) has grown from a small dixieland combo into Solano County’s flagship big-band jazz ensemble. Today the group swings through Count Basie-style charts, gospel favorites, and pop classics with line-ups that range from tight quartets to a full 18-piece horn section, mirroring legends like Ellington and Sinatra while adding its own modern spark.

AMO is a cornerstone of the Vaca Jazz Society, headlining the annual Vacaville Jazz Festival and anchoring community series such as Suisun City’s Sunday Jazz on the Waterfront. Its signature event—the Alive Music Orchestra Christmas Show, a Valley Church tradition for more than three decades—caps the year with holiday cheer and a heartfelt salute to local service members.