6th May 2016: More reviews for The National Youth Jazz Orchestra’s NYJO FIFTY inc Hi-Fi News & Record’s ‘album choice’.

Since The National Youth Jazz Orchestra released its celebratory fiftieth anniversary double album NYJO FIFTY, the album has continued to receive great press. Here are the highlights from the latest:

“A fine celebration of an institution that has done so much for jazz education in this country.”
The Jazz Mann (full review)

“An impressive package.”
Hi-Fi News & Record (album choice, see below)

NYJO FIFTY celebrates the 50th anniversary of a British institution, The National Youth Jazz Orchestra, who have recorded well over 40 albums to date with this their first release for Whirlwind. Recorded at Air Studios in London, the album reflects the wide range in repertoire, style and musical colors for which NYJO has become known, with a look at new repertoire and some of the band’s past favorites to celebrate 50 years as the UK’s premier youth big band. A double-disc album, the band’s contemporary material makes up Disc 1 with more traditional material on Disc 2. It has always been NYJO’s belief that in order to create a firm foundation for progression in the music, a clear sense of the legacy of jazz and in particular the great lexicon that makes up the big band style is needed. NYJO FIFTY accomplishes this and more with a program of varied arrangements reflecting trends in both historical and contemporary large ensemble jazz bands.