NYJO to link up with musicians from Germany and Holland at the Apex

Fresh from two sold-out nights at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in January and a critically-acclaimed performance at the BBC Proms last summer, the National Youth Jazz Orchestra are returning to Bury St Edmunds along musicians from two European outfits.

Three Nations Under One Groove is a collaboration between the National Youth Jazz Orchestras of the UK (NYJO), Germany (BuJazzO) and Holland (NJJO).

NYJO is world-famous as a glittering showcase for the country’s best young musicians.

Since its founding in 1965 many of the current generation of top British jazz musicians have risen through its ranks often becoming established jazz stars.

Alumni include Guy Barker, Mark Nightingale, Pete Long, Dennis and Winston Rollins and Amy Winehouse, which gives an idea why Sir John Dankworth is famously quoted as describing NYJO as one of the best bands you will ever hear.

NYJO, BuJazzO and NJJO will present a programme that showcases their unique national jazz dialects before the nationalities combine into three mixed orchestras.

NYJO will present contemporary works and arrangements by its artistic cirector Mark Armstrong and band members that explore the breadth of the modern British jazz orchestra sound including a jazz arrangement of Gustav Holst’s ballet music from The Perfect Fool.

BuJazzo’s contribution to the programme is the work of the Kurt Edelhagen Orchestra – the dominant European big band of the post-war era (rivalling Ted Heath’s band, some would argue), that famously collaborated with the American jazz pianist Mary Lou Williams in 1954.

And NJJO brings the music of contemporary Dutch guitarist Anton Goudsmit – with his distinctive upbeat grooves – and their music director Johan Plomp.

The bands have been collaborating since 2014, but the project takes on a particular significance this year.

Touring in the week after the UK’s planned departure from the EU, these young musicians are making an impassioned plea for continued cultural exchange between our nations.

NYJO’s Three Nations Under One Groove is at The Apex, on Friday, April 5, at 7.30pm. Tickets are £18, ring The Apex box office on 01284 758000, or visit www.theapex.co.uk for more information