Orbert Davis is co-founder, conductor and artistic director of Chicago Jazz Philharmonic, a 55+ piece symphonic jazz orchestra dedicated to multi-genre projects. He is also Clinical Associate Professor of Jazz Studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Winner of the 1995 Cognac Hennessy National Jazz Search, Orbert was chosen one of Chicago Tribune’s "1995 Arts People of the Year". Chicago Magazine named him "Y2k Best Trumpeter in Chicago" and "Chicagoan of the Year for 2002".

Mr. Davis' 2004 CD release entitled "Blue Notes”, was the follow-up to his critically acclaimed "Priority" CD, which garnered an LA Times 4-star review, hit Top-50 "most played on national radio" Jazz CDs in 2002 and was named Top-10 best Jazz CDs of 2002 by the Chicago Tribune. His latest CD, Chicago Jazz Philharmonic's "Collective Creativity", was released January 2009.

Mr. Davis has a Bachelor's degree in trumpet performance from DePaul University and a Master's degree in Jazz Pedagogy from Northwestern University. He lives in Chicago with his wife Lisa, their two daughters, Zoe and Sydney, and their two sons, Donovan and Benjamin.

Orbert served on the JEN Steering Committee in 2008 as a Founding member.