Funded by the city of Helsinki, the Finnish Broadcasting Company, and the Ministry of Education, UMO is something like Finland's national jazz orchestra. The big band was founded by musicians who played in the country's Radio Dance Orchestra, which had been in existence since 1957. UMO has toured all over the world, and performed with such leading jazz musicians as Thad Jones, Dizzy Gillespie, Joe Williams, McCoy Tyner, and Muhal Richard Abrams, among others. The band has released albums on several labels, including Naxos Jazz, Leo, and A-Records. ~ Chris Kelsey