West Australian Youth Jazz Orchestra

The West Australian Youth Jazz Orchestra (WAYJO) 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.

West Australian Youth Jazz Orchestra
Genres	Jazz

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 (WAAPA). 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.

Since 2008 their artistic director is Mace Francis who is also musical director for their Wednesday Night Orchestra.^[1][2]

Albums

Night and Day Recorded October 1996 at the Western Australian Conservatorium of Music

WAYJO 1 MD – Graeme Lyall Alto 1 – Michael Collinson Alto 2 – Graeme Blevins Tenor 1 – James Sandon Tenor 2 – Ben Phillips Baritone – Mark Sprogowski Trumpet 1 – Darryl Wilson Trumpet 2 – Damien Maughn Trumpet 3 – Matthew Jodrell Trumpet 4 – Benn Hodgkin Trombone 1 – Jeremy Greig Trombone 2 – Tim French Trombone 3 – Peter Yunken Bass Trombone – Brett Page Guitar – Andre Bourgault Piano – Tom O'Halloran Bass – Graham Local Drums – Gavin Kerr Vocals – Bronwynn Way Vocals – Penny Cullen

WAYJO 2 (The Queen Bee) MD – Shane Mancuso Alto 1 – Marion Collins Alto 2 – Jodie Bennett Tenor 1 – April Ashton Tenor 2 – Aaron Cargill Baritone – Chris Jodrell Trumpet 1 – Sam Graham Trumpet 2 – Simon O'Neill Trumpet 3 – Tim Colgan Trumpet 4 – Ben Basell Trombone 1 – Laurence Le Page Trombone 2 – Jayne Hehir Trombone 3 – Kathryn Smith Trombone 4 – Ben Harrison Guitar – Antony Gray Piano – Pat Drury Bass – Philip Waldron Drums – Tom Coveney

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.

Get Happy This double CD features the 2011 and 2012 WAYJO Composers Ensemble.

CD 1 was recorded during the 2012 Sydney tour at the James Morrison Studios. The music featured comes from three composers WAYJO had worked with over recent years – Ed Partyka (GER), Franck Tortiller (FRA) and Jim McNeely (USA).

CD 2 is a live to air broadcast for the ABC recorded at the WA State Theatre Centre in 2011. The concert featuring the piano playing and compositions of Jim McNeely. credits released 14 May 2013

CD1 (tracks 1–5) Alto 1 – Laura Corny Alto 2 – Alana McPherson Tenor 1 – Tom Greble Tenor 2 – Luke Minness Baritone – Mitch Boag Trumpet 1 – Sam Timmerman Trumpet 2 – Hayden Ward Trumpet 3 – Michael Olsen Trumpet 4 – Matthew McGlynn Trombone 1 – Blake Phillips Trombone 2 – James Cross Trombone 3 – Lynne Loo Bass Trombone – Alex Bradbury Guitar – Nic di Gregaro Piano – Gabriel Fatin Bass – Jesse Byrom-Carter Drums – Naomi Tan Vocals – Anea Duratovic

Recorded 7 June 2012 James Morrison Studios Sydney Recording Engineer John Morrison Mixed by Lee Buddle and Mace Francis at Crank Recording, Perth Mastered by Lee Buddle

CD2 (tracks 6–10) Alto 1 – Laura Corny Alto 2 – Erin Royer Tenor 1 – Tom Greble Tenor 2 – Luke Minness Baritone – Mitch Boag Trumpet 1 – Sam Timmerman Trumpet 2 – Hayden Ward Trumpet 3 – Ben Moody Trumpet 4 – Matthew McGlynn Trombone 1 – James Cross Trombone 2 – Blake Phillips Trombone 3 – Lynne Loo Bass Trombone – Alex Bradbury Guitar – Chris Sealy Piano – Lewis Moody Bass – Jesse Byrom-Carter Drums – Bronton Ainsworth Vocals – Allira Wilson

Recorded 23 October 2011 State Theatre Centre, Perth Recording Engineers Karl Akers and Gavin Fernie Mastered by Lee Buddle

Best of 2017 Released 1 November 2017

Basically Blues, recorded live at The Astor Theatre 13 May 2017 by Kris Vanderplas. A Night in Tunisia, Census Night & My Country, recorded 31 May 2017 at RADA Perth by Kieran Kenderessy. Chinese Whispers 2017, recorded 1 October 2017 at C401 Recording Studio, Showa University of Music, Japan by Masayuki Minato. Beulah Witch & Bye Bye Blaackbird, recorded 24 October 2017 at RADA Perth by Kieran Kenderessy. All tracks mixed and mastered by Kieran Kenderessy. Cover Photography by Jess Herbert, Cover Design by Justine Thornley.

SHOWAYJO in Perth | Saxes: Alana Macpherson, Mayu Ito, Tim Newhouse, Harry Brooker, Meg Davidson. Trumpets: Matt Smith, Asumi Kinjo, Blake Armstrong, Chris Musitano. Trombones: Sam Hadlow, James van de Ven, Tomomi Hosoya, Alistair Barrow. Guitar: Ryoma Ito. Piano: Ayaka Toyohide. Bass: Kane Shaw. Drums: Jumpei Yashiro. Vocals: Annie Mitchell. Musical Director: Mace Francis & Masa Ikeda.

SHOWAYJO in Japan | Saxes: Alana Macpherson, Mayu Ito, Tim Newhouse, Ryouma Mano, Soko Nakagawa. Trumpets: Matt Smith, Masahito Kanatsu, Asumi Kinjo, Yumi Gokan. Trombones: Sam Hadlow, Tomomi Hosoya, Ryoka Kawachi, Mariko Mihara. Guitar: Ryoma Ito. Piano: Ayaka Toyohide. Bass: Kane Shaw. Drums: Jumpei Yashiro. Vocals: Annie Mitchell. Musical Director: Mace Francis & Masa Ikeda.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT ORCHESTRA | Saxes: Alana Macpherson, Tessa Campbell, Reece Clark, Jemima Mills. Trumpets: Matt Smith, Harry Josland, Ben Lim, Chris Musitano. Trombones: Blake Phillips, James van de Ven, Sam Hadlow, Alistair Barrow. Guitar: Joshua Nicholls. Piano: Tim Voutas. Bass: Kane Shaw. Drums: Jasper Miller. Vocals: Priscilla Gardner. Musical Director: Mace Francis.

TUESDAY NIGHT ORCHESTRA | Saxes: Sam Holden, Joe Banks, Harry Brooker, Max Wickham, Meg Davidson. Trumpets: Blake Robertson-Hall, James Chapman, Sam Fitzgerald, Zoe McGivern. Trombones: Alex Parkinson, James van de Ven, Jacob Augustson, Tom Salleo. Guitar: Sean Butler. Piano: James O’Brien. Bass: Joshua Cusack. Drums: William Chiew. Vocals: Annie Mitchell. Musical Director: Marty Pervan.

Best of 2018 PRODUCTION CREDITS WAYJO Live recordings by Kieran Kenderessy – Tracks 1-4 & 6-13 – during the WAYJO Jazz at The Maj 2018 season on location Downstairs at The Maj, His Majesty's Theatre, Perth Western Australia. SHOWAYJO Studio recording by Kieran Kenderessy – Track 5 on 1 July 2018 at Crank Recording, Northbridge Western Australia. Cover Photography by Eliza Cowling, Cover Design by Justine Thornley. credits released 1 December 2018

WAYJO Monday Night Orchestra (MNO) on tracks 04 Pennies From Heaven, 06 Ko Ko, & 12 Feeling Free Saxophones: Shaniqa Ratnasingam, Holly Forster, Ryan Zare, Finn Own, Jazmin Ealden. Trumpets: Bob Tweedie, Charlie Teakle, Brendan Arbuckle, Alex Kinsey . Trombones: Holli Hatherley, Nicholas Apostolou Garcia, William Brook, Sophie Bennett . Guitar: Santiago Garcia Piano: James Wilson Bass: Gavin Proude Drums: Julius Rogers Vocals: Lucy Iffla

WAYJO Tuesday Night Orchestra (TNO) on tracks 03 Tuning Up, 08 Der Traum, & 10 Jazz Euphoria on Frenchman Street Saxophones: Sean Hayes, Joseph Banks, Max Wickham, Thomas Hamilton-Stone, Meg Davidson. Trumpets: Dusan Cuculoski, Henry Van Den Wall Bake, Zoe McGivern, Julia Wallace. Trombones: Alex Parkinson, Ollie Lane, Harrison Nichols, Tom Salleo. Guitar: Dan Garner (tr 03 & 08) & Kyle Imlah (tr 10). Piano: James O’Brien Bass: Joshua Cusack Drums: William Chiew.

WAYJO Wednesday Night Orchestra (WNO) on tracks 01 Hi Hat Man, 02 Bye Bye Blackbird, 07 Phaedrus, 09 The Dust That Falls From Dreams, 11 Ready, & 13 Evil Gal Blues Saxophones: Tessa Campbell, Claire Keet, Tom Walsh (tr 2, 7 & 13), Tim Newhouse (tr 1, 2, 7, 11 & 13), Harry Brooker (tr 1 & 11), James Sewell (tr 9), Tarmon Simpson (tr 9), Jemima Mills. Trumpets: Matt Smith, James Chapman, Ben Lim (tr 1, 2, 7, 11 & 13), Dusan Cuculoski (tr 9), Zoe McGivern (tr 1, 2, 7, 11 & 13), Corban Chapple (tr 9). Trombones: Steve Bickley, James van de Ven (tr 2, 9 & 13), Sam Hadlow, Alex Parkinson (tr 1, 7 & 11), Alistair Barrow (tr 1, 2, 7, 11 & 13), Rob Coleman (tr 9). Guitar: Oliver Vonlanthern Piano: Tim Voutas Bass: Kane Shaw Drums: Ryan Daunt Vocals: Laura Igglesden (tr 09)

SHOWAYJO (Showa Academia Musicae, Japan & WA Youth Jazz Orchestra) on track 05 Chinese Whispers 2018 Saxophones: Tessa Campbell, Miu Kawano, Claire Keet, Max Wickham, Meg Davidson. Trumpets: Ricki Malet, Dusan Cuculoski, Maiko Mukaida James Chapman. Trombones: Tom Salleo, James van de Ven, Ryoka Kawachi, Tomohiro Tanaka. Piano: Tim Voutas Bass: Joshua Cusack Drums: Fuga Akase

Bands

Wednesday Night Orchestra

The Wednesday Night Orchestra (WNO) 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 WNO is Mace Francis

Tuesday Night Orchestra

The St John of God Tuesday Night Orchestra (TNO) 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 TNO is Marty Pervan

Monday Night Orchestra

The MinterEllsion Monday Night Orchestra takes its repertoire from Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Sy Oliver, Fletcher Henderson and Tommy Dorsey. The music director for MNO is Ricki Malet

Graduates & Alumni

• Linda May Han Oh (double bass)
• Jamie Oehlers (saxophone)
• Libby Hammer (voice)
• Graham Wood (Piano)
• Carl Mackey (Saxophone)
• Troy Roberts (saxophone)
• Daniel Susnjar (drums)
• Graeme Blevins (saxophone)
• Mat Jodrell (trumpet)
• Sarah McKenzie (piano)
• Jordan Murray (trombone)
• Catherine Noblet (trombone)
• Andrew Murray (trombone)
• Mace Francis (composer)
• Vanessa Perica (composer)
• Dane Alderson (electric bass)

Featured Composers

Australian

• Graeme Lyall
• James Morrison
• Julian Lee
• Mace Francis
• Daryl McKenzie
• Grant Windsor
• Michael Wallace
• Daniel Thorne
• Tilman Robinson
• Alice Humphries
• Jenna Cave
• Rafael Karlen

International

• Bob Brookmeyer
• Ed Partyka^[3]
• Maria Schneider

See also

• List of youth orchestras

References

1. "Jazz orchestra's history of success". Seesawmag. 28 October 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
2. "Artistic Team". WAYJO. 22 April 2017. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
3. (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 April 2012. Retrieved 7 May 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)