ON Friday, December 9 Colin Byrne will bring the Leeds Jazz Orchestra (LJO) to the Winter Garden, Ilkley playing an eclectic mix of Basie, Ellington and Mingus, laced with some funk and a splash of latin.

Set up as an adult evening in class in 1990, the Orchestra gravitated to the Leeds College of Music’s Community Education Department. In 2002 saxophonist Al Wood took over the leadership followed in 2004, by drummer Colin Byrne. In 2010, due to funding cuts, the band became fully independent and self-funded, thanks to the efforts of Ruth Ker (Bass) and Liz For (alto sax), with regular rehearsals at Headingley Enterprise and Arts Centre (HEART).

Yorkshire Television Arranger of the Year 1999, Musical Director Colin Byrne was born in Cork City, Ireland in 1974 and completed a BA degree in Jazz Studies at Leeds College of Music in 1999 and subsequently a M.Mus in Jazz Composition. Alongside his teaching, Colin composes and arranges for many ensembles in the north, including the LJO and legendary Leeds band Bassa Bassa, being in high demand as a player, composer and arranger.

Having recently accompanied Canadian jazz trumpet star, Ingrid Jensen as part of the NovolJazz promoters network tour, the LJO delights in an eclectic mix of repertoire from Bebop, Blues and Ballads through to cutting-edge modern Jazz. Classic big band arrangements from Basie to Mingus sit alongside numbers written specifically for the band by up and coming new composers, played by talented northern musicians.

More information on the LJO can be found on their website leedsjazzorchestra.com, Facebook or Twitter @leedsjazzorch