Tommy Smith Solo / TSYJO All-Stars
The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh is celebrating 40 years and has invited saxophonist Tommy Smith to opens this special jazz concert with a solo set and then to present his “TSYJO All-Stars’ that feature some of the best players who have played in this unique ensemble.
The TSYJO: December Concerts
The Tommy Smith Youth Jazz Orchestra is delighted to help start your festive season with two afternoon concerts of swinging jazz. Playing two new venues for the orchestra, we start in Glasgow at The Renfield Centre and then travel to Leith Theatre in Edinburgh for concerts that will feature a fantastic line up of young musicians
The TSYJO: October Concerts
The Tommy Smith Youth Jazz Orchestra is delighted to open their autumn season at the Roxy Theatre, Edinburgh for the first time and then to return to the Drygate, Glasgow for concerts that feature a fantastic line up of young musicians, each showing endless talent, improvisational skills, exuberance and verve.
Jazz Re-Imagined: A well deserved 5* Review
Scottish National Jazz Orchestra – “Jazz Re-Imagined” with Florian Ross brought to The Queen’s Hall Edinburgh a selection of music from the songbooks of Jazz masters. With music arranged and conducted by Florian Ross, they explored the re-imagined musical worlds of John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, Chick Corea, Charlie Parker, Michael Brecker,
Jazz Re-Imagined: a Review
For its penultimate project of 2018 the SNJO turned the focus on the art of arrangement with one of the orchestra’s most frequent collaborators, Florian Ross. The Cologne-based pianist and composer’s assignments have included re-orchestrating the great Scottish tenor saxophonist, Bobby Wellins’ previously neglected Culloden Moor Suite, the haunting epilogue of which featured here, and […]
Jazz Re-Imagined: Florian Ross on reimagining jazz classics for the SNJO
Being “creative in disguise” is the way to do it, according to celebrated jazz composer and arranger Florian Ross, who joins the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra for a three-venue showcase of the arranger’s art entitled Jazz Re-Imagined. The Cologne-based pianist – his surname may sound Scots but is derived from old German for “horse” – first […]
4th fantastic review of “Sweet Sister Suite” for London jazz News
The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra (SNJO) under the direction of Tommy Smith continue their rich vein of form with this superb rendition of Kenny Wheeler’s Sweet Sister Suite, originally commissioned some 20 years ago and now finally out on CD.
A New Chapter In Jazz from SNJO: Kenny Wheeler’s ‘Sweet Sister Suite’
The history of jazz is littered with tales of unsung heroes and overlooked genius. It could be argued that trumpeter and composer, the late Kenny Wheeler was one such musician. He moved almost invisibly through the mainstream milieu, yet, he was universally admired by his peers for his important contributions to jazz composition.
A great Review for our latest CD: Kenny Wheeler’s “Sweet Sister Suite”
In 1996, the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra’s director, Tommy Smith commissioned the late Kenny Wheeler to write a suite which, some twenty years on, has been recorded by the seventeen-piece big band. Joining the all-star line-up on this Spartacus Records’ album are Laura Jurd (trumpet) and Irini Arabatzi (voice).
Another fabulous review of our newest CD “Sweet Sister Suite”
THE Scottish National Jazz Orchestra is making a habit of championing under-sung heroes. Firstly, with its reworking of Bobby Wellins’ long neglected Culloden Moor Suite and now with this piece, which SNJO director Tommy Smith commissioned from the great British-Canadian trumpeter Kenny Wheeler, the orchestra has paid tribute to two musician-composers, neither of whom would […]
