Irvin Mayfield at the New Orleans Jazz Market in 2014. Photo by Brandt Vicknair.

Irvin Mayfield resigns as director of the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra

According to Nola.com, Irvin Mayfield has officially resigned as the director of the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra. The award winning musician was recently accused of handling the funds of the Orchestra and the charity supporting the city’s library system incorrectly.

As we’ve previously reported, after an investigation done by WWL-TV, it was found that Irvin Mayfield moved $660,000 from the Library Foundation to help with the cost for the Jazz Market project which was $10 million. He had also moved another $197,000 in 2013.

With Mayfield’s departure, the Artist Committee will be assigned the job of supporting the orchestra during the transition, according to NOLA.com. The Committee Co-Chairs will be given to Mikki Shepard and Wynton Marsalis. NOJO board member Ken Schwartz as well as jazz vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater will serve on the committee, while the title of Music Director will be given to Adonis Rose.

Markham will continue to lead NOJO as the president and CEO.