Biography
The New Jazz Orchestra originated in 1963 under Clive Burrows before Neil Ardley, born 26 May 1937 in Wallington, Surrey, England, and deceased 23 February 2004 in Milford, Derbyshire, England, revived and led the ensemble from 1964 through 1968. Young British jazz players gained crucial exposure to large-ensemble work through its ranks, which featured trumpeters Harry Beckett, Henry Lowther and Ian Carr, trombonists Paul Rutherford and Mike Gibbs, saxophonists Don Rendell, Trevor Watts, Dick Heckstall-Smith and Barbara Thompson, pianist Michael Garrick, bassist Jack Bruce and drummer Jon Hiseman. The calibre of these participants prompted The Times critic Miles Kington to observe that the NJO ‘makes most big bands sound like trained elephants with two tricks’. Beyond supplying such experience, the group cultivated a workshop setting where composers could test new charts.
Ardley, Alan Cohen, Gibbs, Rutherford, Garrick and Mike Taylor all contributed material. Ardley later recalled, ‘I learnt by my mistakes’, yet once in charge he created substantial works such as the luminous “Shades Of Blue” on the debut album and “Dejeuner Sur L’Herbe” on its successor. The latter composition derives entirely from two- and four-bar motifs taken from its central theme, eschewing repeated chord sequences or scales in favour of organic development reminiscent of classical procedures. Far from a conventional third-stream exercise, the piece sought to forge jazz along fresh lines—an experimental venture the NJO existed to support and one Ardley would seldom have encountered performed elsewhere. The ensemble appeared at London venues and festivals while enjoying a productive association with Colosseum. Although contemporaries praised its “fiercely swinging rhythm, first class solos and brilliant ensemble,” overseas acclaim remained elusive, even as numerous alumni later achieved wide recognition across the continent.
Ardley, Alan Cohen, Gibbs, Rutherford, Garrick and Mike Taylor all contributed material. Ardley later recalled, ‘I learnt by my mistakes’, yet once in charge he created substantial works such as the luminous “Shades Of Blue” on the debut album and “Dejeuner Sur L’Herbe” on its successor. The latter composition derives entirely from two- and four-bar motifs taken from its central theme, eschewing repeated chord sequences or scales in favour of organic development reminiscent of classical procedures. Far from a conventional third-stream exercise, the piece sought to forge jazz along fresh lines—an experimental venture the NJO existed to support and one Ardley would seldom have encountered performed elsewhere. The ensemble appeared at London venues and festivals while enjoying a productive association with Colosseum. Although contemporaries praised its “fiercely swinging rhythm, first class solos and brilliant ensemble,” overseas acclaim remained elusive, even as numerous alumni later achieved wide recognition across the continent.
Albums
Singles
