The West Side Jazz Orchestra: Live

For the first time, the West Side Jazz Club brought together a few of the top musicians seen in ensembles around the UK to launch their very own Jazz Orchestra.

The West Side Jazz Orchestra (c) rw_crowley

The 16 musicians on stage can often be seen in small ensembles, with many of them holding seats in the BBC Big Band, Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra and Syd Lawrence Orchestra. Two of them have also appeared in the highly prestigious Buddy Rich Big Band.

Freddie Gavita and Eddie Curtis @rw_crowley

There were arrangements by Quincy Jones, Bob Florence, Sammy Nestico, Thad Jones, Gordon Goodwin, Count Basie and Tom Kubis, but the most special tunes were those from Colin Skinner (alto sax), Martin Williams (tenor sax), Freddie Gavita (trumpet) and the sadly absent Callum Au (trombone).

Simon Gardner and Jay Craig@rw_crowley

As one might reasonably expect from such a select group, the ensemble performances were impeccable but there were some brilliant solos, including from the afore-mentioned Skinner, Williams and Gavita, as well as my old friend Simon Gardner (trumpet) and a lovely drum solo on Sing, Sang, Sung from the West Side Jazz supremo Dave Tandy.

Dave Tandy and Martin Williams @rw_crowley

The West Side Jazz Orchestra will be back in November and it promises to be another crowd-pleaser. Congratulations to the man behind West Side Jazz - drummer Dave Tandy (above) - for pulling this all together.

Next up at West Side Jazz is the Anthony Kerr and Peter Long Quintet on 3 June