Highland Youth Big Band To Play With Top Jazz Orchestra

10th January 2013

Highland Youth Big Band perform as guests in the Tommy Smith Youth Jazz Orchestra 10th anniversary tour.

Established in 2002 by Scotland’s leading saxophonist, Tommy Smith, the TSYJO offers big band experience to young jazz players who live or study in Scotland and is an inspirational stepping-stone to playing in the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra - indeed two of the TSYJO have since played with the SNJO on their 5* Duke Ellington concerts.

As the 10th anniversary tour comes to an end, Saturday 19th January sees the young musicians of Highland Youth Big Band given the opportunity to open the Concert in Eden Court’s One Touch Theatre. HYBB have also been given the opportunity to work with Tommy Smith earlier that day.

The Highland Council’s Music Development Officer, Norman Bolton said: “Creating opportunities for professional musicians of Tommy’s calibre to work with musicians in our Regional Music Groups reflects the trust and pride we have in the quality of music-making these young people are capable of. This event has been in the planning stages for a considerable time and it will be great to welcome Tommy to the HYBB rehearsals that day and also to witness the inevitable inspiration he will bring to each of the musicians. Allowing HYBB members to be a part of the concert and to hear the TSYJO will hopefully be an experience they will remember for a long time to come”.

Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis were just some of the great names in jazz to whom the TSYJO pay tribute during their concerts, bringing their fabulous and unique sounds to the Highlands and Islands with an exciting programme of foot tapping favourites, infectious swing, mellow mood and contemporary jazz to inspire and entertain all – they were certainly enjoyed! The first night of this tour in Ullapool saw a wonderful review by Stephen Keeler entitled “Fifty shades of Hey!”:

“If you weren’t there you can start kicking yourself now, because this review is only going to make you feel worse. What a night! The rain was lashing, the wind was slamming and the loch was boiling under a furious sky. Indoors, though it was as cool as Fifth Avenue in April, and just as stylish, and as the set opened with a Buddy Rich classic, ‘Love for Sale’, no one in the room was left in a moment’s doubt about the virtuosity of this outfit.”

The full review can be found at this link:
http://northings.com/2012/09/20/tommy-smith-youth-jazz-orchestra-2/

More info for the concert is at www.tsyjo.com and tickets can be booked from Eden Court Box Office.

TSYJO acknowledge the generous support of The Robertson and Carntyne Trusts and The Highland and Western Isles Councils for making this tour possible.