Asha has also organised a charity Jazz Folk Fest, in aid of Syria Relief and Amnesty International on Saturday 25th May, 4-6pm St Saviour’s Church Tonbridge, Kent. The event will feature ‘Out Of The Loop’ (line-up: Asha (saxes), James Dancer (drums), Sam Ainslie (guitar) and Ben Crane (bass), plus Sean Payne (saxes) and other invited musicians, including talented young folk fiddler Billy Hill. Syria Relief commented “We at Syria Relief are immensely grateful for, and deeply humbled by the generosity, enthusiasm and ingenuity of people like Asha and her fellow musicians, young and old, in their endeavours to do something innovative and original to help the suffering people of Syria”. : Read more here:

http://www.syriarelief.org.uk/a-jazz-and-folk-music-fest-in-aid-of-syria-relief

Further details and tickets available by clicking here

The National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO) certainly put the ‘youth’ back into ‘jazz’ with their performance at the Thornbury Arts Festival last week: not only did they manage to mesmerize an audience spanning generations but they did so with astounding ease.

NYJO comprises aspiring musicians under 25 and is one of the country’s longest-running and most successful jazz ensembles, boasting alumni including Amy Winehouse and Guy Barker. The aim is to “raise the profile of jazz among young people” and tonight they take steps to do just that, playing a set juxtaposing old fashioned big-band numbers with cutting-edge contemporary pieces and confident, funky energy with mellower sounds. Just to reiterate how ‘current’ the whole thing can be, musical director Mark Armstrong reads the score from an iPad screen.

The music seeps into every crack in the walls: from beginning to end, NYJO’s performance captivates as arrangements build, grow and flit back and forth between serenity and urgency. From the smooth, classic vocals of Jessica Dowdeswell which conjure images of New York in 42nd Street’s ‘Lullaby of Broadway’ to the enviable fluency of Rob Luft’s guitar-playing and various entrancing solos, the talent being showcased this evening is spectacular. But whilst furrowed brows concentrating on fingers plucking strings, pressing valves and skating over keyboards with furious speed are met by equally furious applause, it is the exhilarating energy flaunting itself on stage which really creates electricity in the atmosphere.

There is a definite chemistry about the timelessness of jazz alongside the fresh-faces of NYJO. The orchestra veers away from traditional formalities in favour of a relaxed environment and this is something which translates in a performance featuring spellbinding ability, lots of foot-tapping and smiles which plaster faces with every absence of a mouthpiece.

As the audience is treated to a final encore performance of a funked-up rendition of ‘Feelin’ Good,’ it becomes easy to understand how the orchestra earned its reputation as a “gateway to the profession.” Even to those who have no idea what a trumpet is, there is no doubt that for the spellbinding talent showcased at the Armstrong Hall this evening the future after NYJO is bright, and the stages graced will be grand.

The journalist, Rhian Morgan, noted that in spite of its successes and a proud legacy of thousands of young musicians who have enlisted over the years, funding remains a worry. Nigel goes on to say that “we must constantly work to raise charitable income. It’s hard for classical organisations, but we suspect it is even harder for those working within jazz education which doesn’t yet have a substantial history of giving.”

To read the whole article click here.

To see more information about supporting NYJO through the NYJO Friends Scheme (options available from as little as £2.50 a month!) click here.

Scott has performed extensively around London including the Royal Albert Hall – where he played in a televised performance as part of the BBC Proms with NYJO, featuring Tim Garland. Scott is an active composer and arranger and plans to form his own band in the near future as a primary outlet for this.

Tickets are available from the Box Office: 01727 846126 or by completing the booking form which can be downloaded here: St Albans International Organ Festival Brochure Discount is offered to Under 18s

NO REHEARSAL 25th May (LCCM OPEN DAY)

NO REHEARSAL 24/31 August (Summer Break)

NO REHEARSAL 7 September (LCCM OPEN DAY)

The first half of the lunchtime concert will feature Dave’s original compositions written for his Two Minds big band, whilst the second half will see the band perform the music of Oliver Nelson, one of the great jazz composers and tenor players.

Oliver Nelson Big Band live and unleashed in Berlin 1970

Dave is a popular & well known figure on the international jazz scene, having recorded 13 albums as leader with various lineups. He cut his teeth with NYJO, Cleo Laine, Roadside Picnic and Mezzoforte and went on to work with Jim Mullen, Ray Charles, Martin Taylor, Itchy Fingers, Frank Sinatra, Salif Keita, Jimmy Smith, Joe Locke, Kyle Eastwood, Jamie Cullum, Stan Tracey, Matthew Herbert, Chico Chagas and the BBC Big Band to name only a few.

Oliver Nelson was perhaps the greatest jazz orchestra composer and arranger of the postwar era, and a great tenor player whose album Blues And The Abstract Truth is a masterpiece of post bop cool!

Relativity By The Dave O’Higgins Two Minds big band