The National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO) is a British jazz orchestra founded in 1965 by Bill Ashton.
Based in Westminster, London, NYJO started life as the London Schools' Jazz Orchestra and evolved into becoming the national orchestra. Its aims are to provide an opportunity for gifted young musicians from around the UK to perform big band jazz in major concert halls, theatres, and on radio and television, and to make recordings, commission new works from British composers and arrangers, and to introduce a love of jazz to as wide an audience as possible, but especially to schoolchildren.
The band rehearse every Saturday at the The Cockpit, near Edgware Road, London. Since the band was founded, admission to rehearsals for NYJO and NYJO 2 has been and remains free. There are no auditions to participate in the NYJO rehearsals/learning.
The performing band, NYJO, is selected by audition and invitation.
In 2011, a new band, NYJO London, was created to focus on developing school aged jazz musicians in greater London.
The NYJO's extensive discography, of some 40+ recordings, includes a tribute to British jazz pianist, big band leader and arranger, Harry South.
The NYJO's members have included many of the major names in British jazz over the last three decades, including Amy Winehouse, Guy Barker, Richard James Burgess, Nigel Hitchcock, Brian Priestley, Dave O'Higgins, Julian Argüelles, Jamie Talbot, Simon Phillips, Steve Hill, Chris Biscoe, Carol Kenyon, Neil Yates, Frank Ricotti, Gerard Presencer, Chris White, Dave Watts, Ian Bufton.
Read more about National Youth Jazz Orchestra: Discography
Famous quotes containing the words national, youth, jazz and/or orchestra:
“I came here for one thing only, to try to help national Ireland—and if there is no such thing in existence then the sooner I pay for my illusions the better.”
—Roger Casement (1864–1916)
“The education of females has been exclusively directed to fit them for displaying to advantage the charms of youth and beauty. ... though well to decorate the blossom, it is far better to prepare for the harvest.”
—Emma Hart Willard (1787–1870)
“Though the Jazz Age continued it became less and less an affair of youth. The sequel was like a children’s party taken over by the elders.”
—F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896–1940)
““Pop” Wyman ruled here with a firm but gentle hand; no drunken man was ever served at the bar; no married man was allowed to play at the tables; across the face of the large clock was written “Please Don’t Swear,” and over the orchestra appeared the gentle admonition, “Don’t Shoot the Pianist—He’s Doing His Damndest.””
—Administration in the State of Colo, U.S. public relief program. Colorado: A Guide to the Highest State (The WPA Guide to Colorado)