MYJO Too!, the second band in the MYJO organisation won a gold award in the recent National Concert Bands’ Festival at the Royal Academy in London.  Congratulations to the band and to their hardworking Musical Director Kevin Johnson for an excellent performance.

Trumpeter John Ruddick has created something rather magical with the Midland Youth Jazz Orchestra (MYJO) and last Friday night Stratford was given the opportunity to experience this in the Levi Fox Hall at King Edward VI School.

Under his baton the band – all under 25 – conjured up a set of sparkling standards, which allowed each of the players to show off their musical prowess to great effect.

With exemplary soloists and virtuoso performances, it was no wonder they were invited to provide musical accompaniment for one of the country’s biggest female jazz names – Jacqui Dankworth – for this musical festival treat.

The evening opened with panache as the young musicians delved into the beautiful arrangements of My Man Bill, I’ll Remember April, A Time for Love and an exceptional performance of I’ve Got Rhythm to get the audience warmed up and swinging before Ms Dankworth took to the stage.

As expected, Ms Dankworth offered a raunchy blues approach as she slipped through If I Were A Bell, September In The Rain and A Nightingale Sang In Berekley Square. It wasn’t difficult to spot which were her late father’s arrangements fro his inimitable style as Ms Dankworth proved a perfect exponent.

The second half once more gave MYJO the chance to shine on their own and accompanying the singer.

The young musicians gave blazing sounds and the soloists really came into their own. Of course Ms Dankworth shone as she sang more of her own songs before finishing spectacularly with Sitting On Top Of The World and But Beautiful, masterfully arranged by Malcolm Edmonstone.

There was no doubt that these talented young performers alongside Ms Dankworth gave the audience a superb evening of high quality music which earned all concerned their well deserved rapturous applause.

Sandie Holte

MYJO Too! Musical Director and former MYJO lead trumpet Kevin Johnson says: “This competition is an ideal opportunity for the young men and women of MYJO Too! to perform in public to the highest of standards and carry on the long tradition MYJO bands contesting and succeeding.”

The band has to perform a selection of big band pieces to judges including the great band leader Ian Darrington.  Some bands will be selected to represent the region at the National finals of the NCBF in London next Spring.

We wish them lots of luck.

Paul and Sue Hellyer

And this from Jan ‘Bas’ Johansen, Jazz Presenter, Riviera FM:

Firstly, the audio sample links should all now work.

Secondly our latest CD is available to listen to with two samples.

Finally, our most recent two albums FLYING HOME and TWIST OF THE WRIST are now available to download from iTunes, just click on the CD logo next to each album.

Forthcoming developments over the next few days will include online CD ordering via PayPal.

“Instead of the now traditional visits of the senior band to Europe, this year we have planned a visit to Southern England. In this way, we can hopefully build our fan base, and visit some attractive towns and venues in the process. If you are in Kent, two concerts are planned, one in Gillingham and one in Folkestone. The former is a return visit to the Wigmore Smallholders Association Club, which was a great success last year. The second concert at the Tower Theatre Folkestone is in an attractive converted church setting. There is also a good following for jazz in the area. The band then moves across country to the Regis Centre at Bognor Regis, which is a regular haunt for big bands up and down the country. After Bognor, we move right across to Devon, and the Plough Art Centre at Great Torrington. This is an attractive part of the world, and we will hopefully draw in summer visitors as well as regulars.

We then go to Wales for one night and visit a regular jazz venue, the Swansea Jazzland Club, and then back along the M4 to Bath, and the Chapel Arts Centre. The last two nights are at Farnham Maltings where the band performed several years ago, on the same concert as Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen, and then back down to Devon for the last concert at the Carlton Theatre at Teignmouth. It should be great fun !”

Click the images below for more details of the tour including dates, venues and ticket information:

MYJO is saddened by the sudden death of one of the best drummers ever to perform for it. Chris Dagley, aged 39 was tragically killed in the early hours of Wednesday 28th July, 2010, returning home through London on his scooter from his regular gig at Ronnie’s Jazz Club.

He was in MYJO from an early age, and left at 15 years old, already establishing himself as one of the top players. He played in NYJO for a few years before branching out into the profession as an unusually gifted and versatile player, in many different musical genres.

He worked not only with jazz stars  (Benny Golson, Randy Brecker, Jim Mullen, Don Weller) and the BBC Big Band but also big pop names including Liza Minnelli, Bette Midler, Lionel Ritchie, Gary Barlow, Westlife and The Osmonds.

He lived in Ruislip, Middlesex and leaves a widow and three young children.