The Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Joe Herrera (upper left) and Brad Linde (lower right).

A gem of the local jazz scene can be found on Monday nights at Bohemian Caverns, when the historic club hosts its house band, the Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra. The BCJO boasts a rotating cast of the area’s finest talent. Every week, casual jazz fans and aficionados alike can enjoy a diverse repertoire from the 17-piece ensemble, ranging from the big band classics of Ellington and Basie to original compositions by members of the group. Not bad for a mere $7 cover.

The BCJO made its first appearance in April of this year, an event which took place with much fanfare, including a live broadcast of the show on WPFW. Saxophonist Brad Linde (***) and trumpeter Joe Herrera, both familiar names for readers of this site, collaborated on the initial concept behind the band, and act as its co-directors. DCist decided to check in with them, as October marks the group’s six-month anniversary.

“I think we’ve learned that a big band can not only survive nowadays, but prosper in many ways,” said Linde during a recent interview.

Herrera added, “I’ve got to be honest, I expected to have a good regular crowd, but what we have seen is just beyond what we ever expected. We have seen near sell outs multiple times.”