The West Australian Youth Jazz Orchestra is an Australian youth jazz orchestra based in Perth, Western Australia. WAYJO has 54 jazz musicians between 14 and 25 years of age and currently presents over 55 performances a year across Australia.
History
The West Australian Youth Jazz Orchestra was founded in 1983. The original band was formed from secondary school students from the music specialist schools, young local musicians and some of the original students of the inaugural Jazz Studies course at the WA Academy of Performing Arts. By the early 1990s WAYJO had grown to two bands and by the late 1990s three bands were in operation each with its own Music Director, which remains the position today. The three bands are the Composers Ensemble, the Big Band and the Swing Band. Each band works on specific repertoire which builds on the existing skill levels of the musicians.
Albums
Tom Terrific 1.Taking a Break 09:33 2. Gemini 06:52 3. Fascinatin' Rhythm 04:39 4. Gayle Force 07:35 5.Imagination 05:44 6.Take It To The Ozone 06:47 7.Come Rain or Come Shine 06:13 8.My Favourite Things 04:26 9.Embraceable You 06:22 10.Tom Terrific 06:11 about All tracks composed and arranged by WAYJO members at the time. Musical Director - Graeme Lyall credits released 1 February 1998 Recorded December 1997 at WAAPA Mixed by Lee Buddle and Andrew Burch Road to Red Hill Featuring a collection of traditional jazz standards as well as original compositions, WAYJO’s Road to Red Hill CD is the first official recording to include all the highly accomplished WAYJO bands, including the Composers Ensemble, Big Band and Swing Band.
Bands
Composers Ensemble The Composers Ensemble is WAYJO’s premiere ensemble, playing a variety of big band styles from the swing era to contemporary jazz. The focus is on presenting modern Australian composers including a program to promote local WA emerging composers. The music director for the Composers ensemble is Mace Francis Big Band The WAYJO Big Band presents big band music in the style of the 1950s and 60s – Big brass sounds with a swingin’ feeling. Count Basie and Duke Ellington classics are performed along with music from Thad Jones, Bill Holman, Gordon Goodwin and Bob Mintzer. The music director for the Big Band is Marty Pervan Swing Band The WAYJO Swing Band takes its repertoire from Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Sy Oliver, Fletcher Henderson and Tommy Dorsey. The music director for the Swing band is Ricki Malet
Australian Graeme LyallJames Morrison Julian Lee Mace Francis Daryl McKenzie Grant Windsor Michael Wallace Daniel Thorne Tilman Robinson InternationalBob Brookmeyer Ed Partyka Maria Schneider
