Britain’s only full-time big band is made up of musicians whose ages range from eleven to the early twenties. Started in 1965 by Bill Ashton, then teaching French at Risinghill School, it numbers Frank Ricotti, Stan Sulzman, Chris Laurence and Alan Wakeman amongst its more distinguished ‘old boys’.
If you have never seen or heard the NYJO then you will have no idea what to expect for this is an astonishingly good band, as a band, and the enthusiastic Bill Ashton understandably wants the ‘but-they’re-only-kids’ angle played down. How many big bands can take an arrangement such as Mike Vicker’s Eleven Plus (in 11/4) in its stride then rip through Ken Gibson’s Threshing Machine, with its 13-bar first chorus with such consummate ease?
Because of the very nature of its constitution the personnel changes mean that musicians come and go fairly frequently – or rather the available pool is so large that you may not see precisely the same line-up on each gig. (The first time I saw the band at London Weekend it had Ray Ellington’s son in the trombone section). Arrangers such as Ed Harvey, Jack Long, Mike Gibbs, John Cameron, Kenny Wheeler, Alan Cohen, Graham Collier and Harry South have all contributed to the band’s book and no one, at any time, has written ‘down’ for the NYJO. A number of fine pieces have also emerged from within the band itself, notably Marianne heard here, composed, arranged, copied and featuring the trumpet of Martin Bunce.
This particular band has an outstanding alto soloist in Phil Todd, a fine big band drummer in Phil James and a reliable, constructive guitarist in Laurence Juber. But the power and accuracy of the brass is memorable and so is the attractive voice of Carol Kenyon who sings Wait And See with just the rhythm section.
It is encouraging to find young musicians taking to the disciplines and challenges of a big band and no praise can be too high for Bill Ashton’s continuing enthusiasm over the years. When this appears in print the band should be on its way to America, providing the balance of their fare money can be raised. (The NYJO receives no Arts Council or government grants). This fine album was taped one hot evening last summer on the terrace of a building I was involved with constructing and designing. Unfortunately I can claim no credit for the high quality of the music!
Discography
NYJO; Spaghetti Junction; Good To Be Here; Marianne; Wait And See; Eleven Plus (27 min) – Who Wray?; Yesterday’s Blues Today; Legs Eleven; The Threshing Machine; Full House; NYJO (reprise) (28 min)
David Lord, Martin Bunce, Guy Barker, Larry Tyrie, Chris Smith, Tony Hepworth, Mark Chandler (tpt); Mick Harding, Michael innes, Roger Williams, Darren Critton, Ken Price, Brian Lynn (tbn); Dick Martin (French horn); Maurice Cambridge, Phil Todd, Cormac Loane, David Bishop, Ashton Tooteli, Jane Bebbington, Sue Hynett (reeds, woodwinds); Kevin Saviger (elec-pno); Laurence Juber (gtr); Andrew Pask, Phil Cranham (bs-gtr); Phil James (dm); Ian Chopping, Dick Tait, Judy Webber (perc); Carol Kenyon (vcl); Bill Ashton (ldr/dir). London Weekend Television, London 2/7/75.
(RCA SF 8464)
