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 […]
The Count & The Duke

It’s time to swing again, as the SNJO celebrate jazz legends Count Basie and Duke Ellington. Pivotal to the evolution of orchestral jazz, Basie and Ellington created music that defined an era. The SNJO have chosen to feature two of their landmark albums in this concert, The Atomic Mr Basie and Ellington’s Black, Brown & Beige.
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 […]
An afternoon jazz concert for children Peter & The Wolf – 14 July

The Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival are delighted to invite you to enjoy this wonderful new interpretation by the SNJO of one of the most universally popular children’s classics Peter & the Wolf.
Peter & The Wolf / Carnival of Animals

The Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival invite you to enjoy new jazz interpretations of two popular classical works: Prokofiev’s Peter & the Wolf and Saint-Saens’ Carnival of the Animals.
Jazz Re-Imagined

Coltrane, Shorter, Corea, Parker, Brecker, Scofield and more… Selected tracks from the Songbooks of Jazz Masters arranged and conducted by Florian Ross
Another 5* Review for SNJO’s Peter & the Wolf / Carnival of the Animals

Having cast transformational brilliance over Mozart’s 9th piano concerto, how would the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, directed by saxophonist Tommy Smith and guest pianist Makoto Ozone, handle these two much-loved popular classics? In the event they pulled off a double bill that combined virtuosity and ingenuity with unadulterated theatricality.