Ocean City Arts Center's Junior Jazz Battle Royal features two youth jazz ensembles who are keeping the Jazz flame burning bright with brilliant and virtuosic performances. With these young musicians on stage, Ocean City comes alive with the sound of some of Jazz's future stars facing off, not in competition, but in synergy.

In July 1961, the Duke Ellington and Count Basie Orchestras came together for the first time ever and recorded an album, released on Columbia Records, titled, First Time: The Count meets Duke. That historic meeting, later referred to in jazz circles as The Battle Royal, has been recreated through live performances by other jazz orchestras and ensembles over the years including on the stage of the 2011 edition of the Jazz à Vienne festival.