NYJO

We are busy bees this month, travelling around the country to deliver some fantastic live performances: 👉 Thursday 14 May NYJO presents Emerging Professional saxophonist Isabella Zufolo and her quartet 'Ecliptica' in the stunning location of Sinfonia Smith Square in Westminster for an evening of Jazz in the Crypt. Doors at 9pm. 👉 Tuesday 19 May A NYJO big band tribute to the iconic South African pianist Abdullah Ibrahim at EPIC Studios, Norwich. This is part of the annual Norwich Jazz Festival. Doors at 8pm. 👉 Sunday 24 May NYJO festival ensemble is back at the fabulous Cross the Tracks festival with its Second Line tradition, bringing processional music involving horns, trombones, saxophones, percussion to the people! 👉 Saturday 30 May An evening of cosmic energy with long-time NYJO collaborator and vocalist Sunshine the Afrooist. This event is hosted by Arts Club Cambridge within the Cambridge School of Visual and Performing Arts. Doors at 7pm. All tickets available on the "What's On" section of the NYJO website; links in our bio. See you there!

FIVE DAYS TO GO! We perform our musical tribute to the master of South African Jazz: Abdullah Ibrahim. His compositions, like the iconic ‘Mannenberg’, became anthems of resilience, unity, and liberation during the anti-apartheid struggle. His legacy continues to inspire generations of musicians worldwide, including many of the Emerging Professionals that form NYJO today. Event date: May 19, 2026 Event time: 8:00 pm Full address: EPIC Studios, 112-114 Magdalen St, Norwich NR3 1JD

Come and learn the saxophone with us @woolwichworks in sessions led by the incredible @floredmonds and @lydiascochrane 💥🎷 Applications close on Monday 15th June.

In February, we spent 3 days working with young people aged 13 - 18 in the @balletlorent youth academy at the fab @cobaltstudios.ouseburn 💥 With the support of NYJO Lead Educator @milli.rose and NYJO Emerging Professional musicians @isabellazufolo @music.by_benji and @3.jai the young people created a performance piece that they then showcased as the support set for NYJO’s gig with @theon_cross 🎶 They even had the chance to perform with Theon himself! Take a look at this glimpse into the brilliant work they created 🧡💚🧡

Jazz meets....Cosmic Energy.... Sunshine the Afrooist, vocalist and artistic mentor, plays a set of original songs with a supporting band of NYJO young musicians. Experience their electrifying solos and dreamy walls of sound at the newest live music spot in Cambridge: Arts Club Cambridge, in the heart of the historic city centre, is an intimate venue where audiences come together to welcome rising stars and ensembles like ours: Dani Roade- Keys & Percussion Jared Meade- Bari Sax Senan McCullough- Drums Hana Amaya- Backing vocals/ Trumpet Carolina Lopez Del-Nero - Cello Tahirah Myrie- Bass Benjy Sandler- Tenor Sax Be there on Saturday 30 May 2026! Doors: 7pm Tickets available in our bio.

7 DAYS TO GO Tickets still available for Ecliptica's late night set.... NYJO presents Emerging Professional saxophonist Isabella Zufolo and her quartet 'Ecliptica' in the stunning location of Sinfonia Smith Square in Westminster for an evening of Jazz in the Crypt. Doors at 9pm. Reserve your space today; link in bio 🎷🎷

“Jazz meets…Cosmic Energy.” Saturday 30 May 2026 NYJO x Sunshine the Afrooist at Arts Club Cambridge Sunshine is a Fine Artist, Performer, Singer-Songwriter and Educator. She has previously worked with NYJO as a lead artist at their Peckham Levels residency, vocalist on their Sun Ra Reimagined project and led research workshops ahead of their tribute to the great James Baldwin for their ‘The Fire Next Time’ performance at the Southbank. Backed by a line up of talented NYJO musicians, Sunshine will be bringing her signature vocals and unique stage presence to Arts Club Cambridge. Doors: 7:00 pm Tickets on sale now🔥Link in Bio 🎉

This month NYJO play the Norwich Jazz Festival! We are excited to present our new project celebrating the legacy of Abdullah Ibrahim and the sounds of South African township jazz. Township Jazz became a unique and powerful mix of traditional African rhythms, gospel harmonies, and the big-band energy of swing and bebop. Join us on May 19th at EPIC studios in Norwich to experience this energy live. Tickets available on our Linktree in bio.

A review of the @bricklanejazzfestival for @allaboutjazzmedia , link in bio to the full piece. Lead photo is from the joyous @steamdown and @nyjouk collaboration. Thanks to @rubystone911 for the astounding shots of Tony Burkill with Work Money Death and the @ata_records crew, @plumm.sass with @levitationorchestra and @stan__woodward with @knatsncl 🙏

Happy International Jazz Day 🎉 What better way to celebrate than announce the brand new NYJO Blueprint Orchestra are officially in rehearsals! They will now be meeting weekly at our NYJO headquarters at Woolwich Works to go through repertoire and build confidence in playing together. Olivia Murphy, NYJO BPO bandleader says: “The band sounded very strong already and (our first meet up) was a really positive exciting atmosphere. Thanks so much everyone on your work with NBO so far, I think it’s going to be a brilliant band !!” Watch this space for more NYJO Blueprint Orchestra projects coming up.

"What's one thing people might not know about saxophonists…?" Read alumni Lisa Grahame's response in her interview with NYJO, out now on our website. Since graduating as Lead Alto from NYJO in 1995, Lisa Grahame has gone on to have a phenomenal career as a leading woman in British Jazz. Whether its backing up the stars on Jools Holland or providing the soundtrack to the top West End musicals, she sure has made her mark on the industry. 🎷🔥 Link in bio!

All we can say is THANK YOU ‼️ The SD community were in full flow on Saturday night and we are so grateful to each and every one of you who turned up! The queues were wrapping around the building and a time was had both on and off stage. Thank you to the National Youth Jazz Orchestra (@nyjouk ) for considering our debut album for this collaboration - it was beautiful to hear it played by the big band in such an incredible room. Thank you to @_juliet_kennedy_ for trusting us with this vision for @bricklanejazzfestival ! And thank you to the incredible musicians who made this possible: Drums: @naterickettsdrums Bass: @enzmadethis Keys: @lorenzthemusic Conductor/Sax: @ahnanse Vocals: @afronautzu Vocals: @allysnm Samples/DJ: @intalektmusic Flute: Benjy Sandler Clarinet: John Kelly Alto: Maisie Riley Alto: Isabella Zufolo Tenor: Lydia Cochrane Tenor: Oskar Jones Baritone: Oliver Tesic Trumpet: Eliza Dunhill Trumpet: Fee Buckton Trombone: Sheen Bendon Bass Trombone: Lexi Turvey FOH: @kieron.strings.sound TM & Manager: @kaiyamilan 📸: @miksfiles 👞🪡: @referenc.official