National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO) will be returning to Blackburn in February with an iconic programme highlighting ‘Legends of Jazz’ at the Blackburn Empire Theatre.
The programme celebrates the greatest jazz classics ever written, and features tunes by undisputable jazz masters such as Caravan by Duke Ellington and Juan Tizol, and ‘Round Midnight by Thelonious Monk, alongside legendary modern composers such as Pat Metheny whose works are at the cutting-edge of jazz.
NYJO last visited Blackburn in the summer of 2014 for a series of education workshops that culminated in a collaborative performance with NYJO and the workshop attendees.
NYJO’s Deputy Musical Director, Winston Rollins, says: “It’s great to be returning to Blackburn with this fantastic orchestra to bring you an evening with the Legends of Jazz.
“Whether you’re a jazz buff or new to the genre, you’ll find a great evening’s entertainment in this swinging programme with lots of tunes you’ll recognise and grooves to tap your feet to. Back in 2014 we worked with some fantastic young musicians, and it would be great to see some of them in the audience”
About NYJO
The National Youth Jazz Orchestra is a charity, whose mission is to promote jazz as an exciting, engaging and inspirational art form through world-class performances and education work. NYJO’s flagship band is the UK’s premier young professional (under 26) jazz orchestra, performing around 40 concerts annually, nationally and internationally.
Alongside these performances, NYJO delivers inspirational education work wherever it goes. NYJO also operates a weekly Academy, which offers London-based access to jazz ensembles for around 100 young musicians of varying levels and abilities.
NYJO has helped launch the careers of many of the UK’s most renowned musicians, including Guy Barker, Amy Winehouse, Mark Nightingale, Laura Jurd and Gwilym Simcock, as well as Dave Arch (leader of the Strictly Come Dancing band) and most of his band members, Martin Koch (musical supervisor for the London Olympics and Paralympics), and many other stalwarts of musicals, films and the studio.
Recent highlights of the flagship band’s concert diary include a yearly residency at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, performing with Gregory Porter at Buckingham Palace, a major European tour with the German (BuJazzO) and Dutch (NJJO) National Youth Jazz Orchestras, a televised performance at the BBC Proms and repeat appearances at the EFG London Jazz Festival. NYJO celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2015 and released a critically-acclaimed double album NYJO FIFTY.
“NYJO has never been conformist, never hewing to one particular line, never known for fawning replications and very deliberately these days a vehicle for new possibilities.” Jazzwise
EVENT DETAILS:
Blackburn Empire Theatre presents ‘National Youth Jazz Orchestra Presents: Legends of Jazz ‘ on Friday 16th February, 2018 at 7.30pm. Tickets start at £18.
Available online here or from the Booking Office in person or by phone (Monday to Saturday 10am to 12:30pm) 01254 685 500.