Laura Jurd: Women Make Music

The National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO) is one of Britain’s longest running ensembles for young people under 25 playing big-band jazz. 2012 performance highlights included a televised performance at the BBC Proms, gigs at the Scarborough and London Jazz Festivals and the release of The Change, a critically-acclaimed new album. With PRS for Music Foundation funding NYJO was able to commission Laura Jurd, a trumpet player, composer, improviser and co-founder of The Chaos Collective (as well as ex-NYJO member) to write two new works for the band to premiere at Ronnie Scott’s club and then add to the repertory. Laura’s way of writing for large jazz ensemble uses contemporary concepts of groove, improvisation and harmony that chimes very well with NYJO’s mission to education its players in all aspects of the world of contemporary jazz.