Oxford University Jazz Orchestra

The Oxford University Jazz Orchestra (OUJO) is a jazz orchestra based in the University of Oxford, England. It was founded in 1991.[1]

Logo of the Oxford University Jazz Orchestra

History
OUJO trumpet players at Challow Park Studios in March 2019

The Oxford University Jazz Orchestra was founded by students in the early 1990s, initially as a word-of-mouth, unauditioned group, later developing into a full-fledged, professional standard big band. Notable alumni from the band include Canadian jazz vocalist Diane Nalini,[1][2] trumpeter and NYJO musical director Mark Armstrong,[3][4] London-based trombonist Callum Au,[5] saxophonists Carlos Lopez-Real[6] and Idris Rahman, and ENO conductor Stephen Higgins.[7]

OUJO has been a multiple-time winner at the BBC Radio 2 National Big Band Competition,[8] and has performed at the Oeuf de Jazz Festival in Le Mans, the OK! Celebrity Ball in London, and the Bull's Head jazz venue in Barnes, west London.[1]

From 1999 to 2002, the band was led by cardiologist and saxophonist Euan Ashley. During his tenure, the band appeared at the Glasgow International Jazz Festival and performed Kenny Wheeler's Sweet Time Suite at St Barnabas Church, Oxford. In 2002, OUJO recorded the live LP Know Where You Are.[9]

In 2010, OUJO toured New York City, performing at multiple venues including a performance for the Hudson Union Society at the Russian Tea Room[10] and as part of the "After Work" series in Bryant Park.[11]

In 2012, the band toured to Canada, performing at the Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival, supporting the Mingus Big Band on the main stage at the Ottawa International Jazz Festival, and playing at the Montreal International Jazz Festival.[12] In 2013, OUJO became an official Oxford University Music Society affiliated ensemble.[13]

In 2016, the orchestra travelled to New York City once again. As well as being invited back to the Hudson Union Society, the band also performed at the Cornell Club of New York[14] and at ShapeShifter Lab in Brooklyn on Independence Day.

In 2018, OUJO made its first tour to Asia, travelling to Bangkok, Thailand.

Associated ensembles

The Oxford University Jazz Orchestra was linked with the Oxford University Big Band (OUBB), another jazz orchestra based in Oxford. The group was based on a band formed in 1961 by NYJO founder Bill Ashton.[15]

Present activity

OUJO performs regularly on the Oxford ball circuit, including at the Commemoration balls, having appeared in line-ups with artists such as The Streets, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Natty, and Athlete.[16] The band represents Oxford annually in a Varsity ‘Jazz Off’ match against ensembles from the University of Cambridge and Durham University.[17]

In 2015, OUJO performed Duke Ellington's choral composition The Sacred Concerts, in collaboration with Schola Cantorum of Oxford, saxophonist Nigel Hitchcock, and vocalist Tina May, and tap dancer Annette Walker at the Sheldonian Theatre.[18]

In 2018, the ensemble performed the European premiere of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra’s Big Band arrangement of John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme at the Sheldonian Theatre.[19] The performance featured OUJO alumni, Mark Armstrong.

See also

References
  1. "users.ox.ac.uk/~oujo, April 1999". Archived from the original on 20 April 2001.
  2. "Diane Nalini". Dianenalini.com. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  3. "Mark Armstrong". London, UK: Royal College of Music. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  4. "Mark Armstrong". Markarmstrongmusic.com. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  5. "Callum Au Music". Callumamusic.com. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  6. "Carlos Lopez-Real". Carloslopez-real.co.uk. UK. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  7. "Stephen Higgins". Stephenhiggins.co.uk. UK. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  8. "Encaenia 1999 – Supplement (1) to Gazette No. 4517". Oxford University Gazette. 25 June 1999. Archived from the original on 26 September 2006. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  9. "Oxford University Jazz Orchestra". Oxford University Gazette. 2001. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  10. "Be Inspired, Change Our World™. HUDSON UNION SOCIETY®". Hudsonunionsociety.com. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  11. "Emerging Music Festival". Bryant Park. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  12. McGregor, Alayne. "More jazz – in Montreal". ottawajazzscene.ca. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  13. "The Oxford University Jazz Orchestra joins OUMS! – OUMS". oums.org. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  14. "The Cornell Club - New York - Calendar Event - Oxford University Jazz Orchestra". www.cornellclubnyc.com. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  15. Chilton, John, ed. (2004). "Ashton, 'Bill' William Michael Allingham". Who's Who of British Jazz (2nd ed.). Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 11. ISBN 978-0826423894.
  16. "The Trinity Commemoration Ball 2011 - The Night". 5 February 2011. Archived from the original on 5 February 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  17. "CUJO – Cambridge University Jazz Orchestra". Cujo.soc.ucam.org. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  18. "Oxford University Jazz Orchestra Concert | Oxford University Faculty of Music". University of Oxford. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  19. Law, Caitlin; Goode, Robert (20 February 2018). "Gig review: OUJO, "A Love Supreme"". The Oxford Student. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
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