TIME AND MOTION – REFLECTIONS ON THE FIRST TWENTY YEARS OF THE SCOTTISH NATIONAL JAZZ ORCHESTRA THE SCOTTISH Is it really 2015? It seems astonishing that a double of tens have passed since the birth of the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, yet here we are. Our story is a 1995 compelling one by any measure, and it reads at times like a drama in three acts. NATIONAL JAZZ First there was the shaky start followed by Over the years, there have been outstanding challenge and adversity, and an eventual concerts, milestone recordings and memorable outcome that’s been a resounding victory evenings with world-renowned masters of jazz for Scottish jazz. Of course, it takes time as our very special guests. to win hearts and stimulate minds, but I’ve enjoyed so many stunning experiences it also requires forward motion to stay ORCHESTRA in my role as artistic director of the SNJO, it’s vibrant, alive and relevant. We also found almost impossible to single out specific highlights. that we needed grit and determination. NEWSLETTER: JANUARY 2015 20TH ANNIVERSARY 1995-2015 When the SNJO company name was However, some of the most vivid concerts featured stolen in 1998, I had to fight for a year the elegance of Gary Burton, the energy of Arild Happy New Year! It is hard to believe that the SNJO - jewel in Scotland’s jazz crown - is 20 years old this year and we to get it back, finally succeeding with the Andersen, the effervescence of Kenny Wheeler, This great art is often taken for granted, are set to sparkle particularly brightly in 2015 as we celebrate with a superb series of spectacular musical experiences. guidance of the Musician’s Union and and an electrifying John Scofield playing the music so it only seems right to name-check their lawyers. of Miles Davis. Neither will I quickly forget World people like Maria Schneider, Joe Locke, What began as a twinkle in Tommy Smith’s eye in 1995 has since In May, we celebrate another centenary - Frank Sinatra - and of the Gods and our 2010 performances with the Makoto Ozone, Florian Ross, Geoffrey grown into a dazzling musical enterprise internationally recognized as our special guest vocalist Kurt Elling will help swing selections In the beginning, the SNJO enjoyed no magnificent Mugenyko Taiko Drummers. Keezer, Christian Jacob, the late Fred a “genuinely world class outfit.” Year on year, the SNJO has delivered from the Sinatra songbook in five cities. institutional support and endured three stylish orchestral jazz to the four corners of Scotland and introduced Sturm, Manu Pekar, Pino Jodice, Michael June then welcomes Eddi Reader as our guest as we embark lean, formative years before we received Over the years it has given me great pleasure the wider world to the jazz talent in our country and with your help, Gibbs, Bob Mintzer and Michael Abene. on an 11-date tour to the Highlands and Islands with Alba, our first major support in 1998. Even then, to welcome Joe Lovano in Torah, David Liebman we hope to continue for many more years to come. the hand-to-mouth existence persisted in Beauty & the Beast, Kurt Elling in Syntopicon, They have been pivotal to the our newly commissioned suite of Scottish songs arranged for a further eleven years. In those days, and Peter Erskine in Weather Report. Certainly, establishment of the SNJO as an We kick off our 20th anniversary year in February with a stunning for jazz orchestra. centenary tribute to Billy Strayhorn: a jazz genius who was composer, I wore every administrative, organisational I hope that SNJO fans recall as fondly as I do energetic contemporary jazz orchestra. Over the next twelve months there will be yet more events and operational hat going, but became a Planet Wave with legendary poet Edwin Morgan, arranger and pianist. Billy wrote much of Ellington’s music including We must acknowledge of course the in store for fans - all uplifting, orchestral jazz - so please enjoy master of none. The Scottish Arts Council the Chick Corea programme with drummer Gary his rollicking signature tune Take the A Train and Chelsea Bridge and outstanding contribution the SNJO reading our news, put dates in your diaries and join us soon - stepped in with more support and in 2010 Novak and Rhapsody in Blue with Brian Kellock. his inspiring musical legacy has created an important and dynamic musicians have made to the quality of the we look forward to seeing you as well as friends and family. we appointed our first manager. After fifteen Most certainly, our shows with the much-missed chapter in jazz history. music. Countless names have performed years we were finally off, and I was free. Tam White, and our celebration of Michael Brecker with the orchestra over the last twenty with his brother Randy, connected strongly with all A year later, our second orchestra years including: Aidan O’Donnell, John THE SCOTTISH NATIONAL JAZZ ORCHESTRA who were there. manager Lindsay Robertson was Blease, John Rae, Colin Steele, Phil DIRECTED BY TOMMY SMITH PROUDLY PRESENTS appointed, and she has more than made We can be proud too of our modest CD output. Bancroft, Ryan Quigley, Rachel Cohen, a difference, empowering the SNJO with The critical success of Culloden Moor Suite with Kevin Mackenzie, Phil O’Malley, Eddie THE JAZZ GENIUS OF BILLY STRAYHORN her wisdom, experience and generosity. Bobby Wellins, and In the Spirit of Duke both Severn, Allon Beauviosin, Paul Towndrow, Our administrative structure remains modest, consolidated our growing reputation for excellence. Chris Greive, Konrad Wiszniewski, Brian Although 2015 marks the 20th birthday of the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, but combined with the unstinting support Also, the recordings we made of Celebration Kellock, Calum Gourlay, Steve Hamilton, it is also the centenary of Billy Strayhorn and what more fitting way to begin of our dedicated Board, we have been able for the iconic jazz label ECM, and more recently Paul Harrison, Lorna McDonald, Mario our special year than with the marvellous music and rich repertoire of this to achieve many great things. We are also American Adventure were particularly important Caribe, Martin Kershaw, Tom MacNiven remarkable musician. especially indebted to all the wonderful landmarks for the SNJO that provided great and Alyn Cosker to name but a few. ‘Friends of the SNJO’ who support our personal satisfaction. Born in 1915, Strayhorn’s name is synonymous Listen to his unique touch on Ellington’s Time passes and leaves us with fond every move. with Ellington’s finest work. The hugely prolific controversial jazz treatments of the classics Last year, however, the SNJO enjoyed its most memories, but the SNJO thrives on Strayhorn composed and arranged literally in Edvard Grieg’s Anitra’s Dance and Morning Billy Strayhorn emphatic concert season so far. We shared the perpetual motion. I’m looking forward to hundreds of pieces especially for the Duke and Mood from Peer Gynt while, Orson and 2015 stage with the brilliant Branford Marsalis paying making as much original and classic jazz wrote many of his greatest hits, often going Theme from Anatomy of a Murder are strong tribute to Shorter, the unstoppable Courtney Pine music as we can, forging even stronger un-credited forhis efforts. evidence of Strayhorn’s pre-existing and barely playing Coltrane and Bob Mintzer guiding us relationships with major international guest suppressed classical ambitions. Once again, the In the 1990’s, jazz historian Walter van de Fri 20 February 2015 elegantly through the Yellowjackets repertoire. artists, and creating inspiring orchestral SNJO revisits Rhapsody in Blue but this time Leur uncovered dozens of previously unknown Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh Audiences responded particularly warmly as jazz. One particular ambition must be in an elegant arrangement by Strayhorn that compositions by Strayhorn and these captivating thequeenshall.net Laurence Cottle, Marcio Doctor and Gareth to address the step-wise release of our condenses Gershwin’s jazz masterpiece into pieces sparkle with musical ingenuity and Billy’s 0131 668 2019 Lockrane joined us to visit the music of Jaco recorded legacy from its current home just four minutes and forty-seven seconds of obvious penchant for a brightly gregarious Pastorius in pulsating style. in the SNJO vaults. shimmering jazz gold. melody. Now these lost Strayhorn tunes are in Sat 21 February 2015 Most memorably, maestro Makoto Ozone joined Then, the listening world will truly hear their rightful place as a restored chapter in the The Jazz Genius of Billy Strayhorn is the story Buccleuch Centre Langholm us in performances of Mozart and Gershwin that how far we’ve come, but in my heart jazz repertoire. of warm, wonderful music created to spread buccleuchcentre.com were quite justifiably described as a tour-de-force. I know how far we’ve yet to travel. happiness. In the hands of the SNJO it’s a sound Join the SNJO as thtey Take the A Train down 01387 381 196 In fact, I will be mixing recordings from these Mozart that makes you feel a bit more optimistic about to Chelsea Bridge, where Billy’s humanity and concerts for the new SNJO release this year. the world, and a reminder that it would have been optimism are further revealed in numbers like Sun 22 February 2015 Over the years the SNJO has enjoyed a poorer place without the influential contribution Jo and Remember. Royal Conservatoire, Glasgow access to some of the music world’s and timeless music of Strayhorn. most phenomenal arrangers. rcs.ac.uk 0141 332 5057 CONTACT DETAILS All concerts start at 7.30pm To find out more re the SNJO or TSYJO, concerts, bookings or sponsorship please contact our Manager, NB there are no pre concert Lindsay Robertson on Tel: 07827 966735 Email: [email protected] Website: snjo.co.uk / tsyjo.com Join us on Facebook or Twitter talks at these concerts TIME AND MOTION – REFLECTIONS ON THE FIRST TWENTY YEARS OF THE SCOTTISH NATIONAL JAZZ ORCHESTRA THE SCOTTISH Is it really 2015? It seems astonishing that a double of tens have passed since the birth of the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, yet here we are.