Still reeling from the adrenaline of our NYJO Super Saturday, we’ve kicked off the autumn with a bold programme of next-gen live jazz. Coming up this October, we return to Pizza Express Live with NYJO Blueprint Orchestra. Later on in the month, we join the line-up of UK’s most talked-about new music venue: Blue Note London. But first, let’s have a look back at all we have achieved in the past few weeks:
NYJO North and Leicestershire Schools Tour
Rehearsals for our new NYJO North project began on Sun 13 Sept at Royal Northern College of Music, run by educator, bassist and NYJO alumni Fergus Quill. The band, made up of passionate instrumentalists aged 18-25 in the North of England, are getting to know each other and sounding great already. They are bringing the bespoke Carla Bley arrangements to life ahead of their debut live shows to be announced soon!
Meanwhile in Leicestershire, we have worked closely with three different secondary schools to give music classes an unforgettable first taste of playing Jazz together.
Also up in Merseyside this October, Fergus will be leading a Holiday Project for young Jazz lovers aged 13-18. Know anyone who might be keen? Sign ups are open until the Sat 11 Oct.
Success of NYJO’s Super Saturday
Between our NYJO Blueprint Orchestra, Miles Davis 100 and Fodder On My Wings performances, our Emerging Professional jazz musicians played to a record number of audiences (and standing ovations) on Sat 19 Sept. Chelsea Arts Festival also hosted a full NYJO Under 18s takeover featuring joyous appearances from vocal, big band and second line ensembles led by our Resident Musical Directors.
NYJO’s Chief Executive Yvette Griffith explains how we also made the NYJO record for quantity of performers on one single Saturday:
With more than 100 young musicians performing across three stages. Across the day we had our Under 18s performing in Sloane Square, before an evening double bill to a full house at Cadogan Hall, while our new NYJO Blueprint Orchestra made its first public performance at Windsor Festival in the presence of our Royal Patron HRH, The Duke of Edinburgh.
Second Line on BBC Radio 3
Before we starred at Brassworks Festival with our own roving ensemble, brass bandleader Vij Prakash spoke to Petroc Trelawny from In Tune on BBC Radio about the Second Line tradition. Inspired by danceable New Orleans street music, our NYJO Second Line band incorporates horns, trombones, saxophones and percussion.
Because the music is loud, infectious, and makes audience want to move, we now have a tradition of taking festival headliners and making them our own (jus like we did at Love Supreme, Cross the Tracks and Chelsea Arts Festival) already this summer. This is why, on the radio, we had the pleasure of playing two tracks live on air: our own brass renditions of Joy Crookes Feet Don’t Fail Me Now and Kokoroko’s Dide O. What absolute bangers!
Find Out What’s Going On Near You…
NYJO Blueprint Orchestra
Mon 5 Oct, 6:30pm
Pizza Express Live Soho
Catch our new Emerging Professionals’ big band ensemble led by Olivia Murphy in their second ever live public show. Expect the music of Ellington and Akiyoshi in Dean Street’s atmospheric jazz club and pizza restaurant.
More details here.
Woolwich Works Songbirds Returns
Wed 7 Oct, 2pm
Woolwich Works
Back for Autumn term, the Songbirds choir is for adults aged 50+ who would like the opportunity to come together to sing, chat, and meet new people. It is a fun, inclusive learning environment suitable for beginners or those who have been singing for years. More details here.
NYJO Manchester Collective
Sat 17 Oct, 4pm
Band on the Wall, Manchester
Running across various Saturdays this Autumn, two of our Emerging Professional Jazz musicians will be working closely alongside learners to make an exciting family showcase this December 2026. More details here.
Steam Down x NYJO Big Band
Thurs 22 Oct, 7pm & 9:30pm and Fri 23 Oct, 7pm & 9:30pm
Blue Note London
Following on from Brick Lane Jazz Festival’s super-group moment, we are back with Steam Down to showcase the power, innovation and community feeling of live jazz in London’s newest venue. More details here
Merseyside Holiday Project
Tues 27 Sep, 12pm
Future Yard, Birkenhead
For those budding instrumentalists in Liverpool, check out our 2 day outreach workshop running this October half term. Participants will learn how to confidently improvise and play in a welcoming group setting. Sign ups are still open until 11 of October. More details here.
Jazz in the Crypt with Krówki
Thurs 29 Oct, 9pm
Sinfonia Smith Square, The Crypt
One of two upcoming nights of new music featuring the emerging ensembles from our young musicians. This time, you will meet Krówki [KROOF-kee] featuring Lydia Cochrane, (tenor sax, fiddle, voice, shruti box), Macy Wright (upright bass), and Sacha Bistany (guitar). More details here.
