The New Jazz Orchestra
The New Jazz Orchestra was a British big band formed in London at the end of 1963 and directed by composer Neil Ardley from 1964. It brought together young players from the London modern jazz scene and performed pieces and arrangements by Ardley, Michael Gibbs, Mike Taylor and others. The New Jazz Orchestra released Western Reunion (Decca, 1965) and Le Déjeuner sur l'Herbe (Verve), the latter with Jack Bruce, Jon Hiseman and Frank Ricotti. Members over the years included Ian Carr, Don Rendell, Barbara Thompson, Harry Beckett, Henry Lowther, Dave Gelly and Dick Heckstall-Smith.
