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The Colin Byrne Jazz Orchestra

Jazz Orchestra composer, Colin Byrne was born in Cork City, Ireland in 1974 where he spent many years playing and touring with various bands. In 1995 he moved to Leeds, England and in 1999 he completed a BA degree in Jazz Studies at Leeds College of Music. In 2000 completed his M.Mus in Jazz Composition. The idea for Big Band Byrne was first conceived in June 1999 just as Colin Byrne was about to complete his B.A. degree in Jazz Studies at Leeds College Of Music. Colin had been writing prolifically during his degree years and had, without realising, produced the first few compositions for the exhilarating pad that Big Band Byrne uses today.

Friends of Leeds College of Music--Composer of the Year 1999 and The Yorkshire Television Arranger of the Year 1999. Resident drummer at The Duck and Drake Jazz Jam in Leeds, UK 2000-2003 and also the Santiago Jazz Jam in Leeds, UK 2006- date. Director of Cork Academy of Music jazz summer school, Ireland 2003-date. Works with students of all ages in workshops and master classes through his work for Artforms, Education Leeds. He published and distributed drum tutor books, Think Drums in November 2005 and also Think Big Band Drums in December 2005.

He is currently composing and arranging for many ensembles in the North of England including Leeds College of Music’s Jazz Orchestra, Education Leeds’ Youth Jazz & Rock Orchestra and legendary Leeds band Bassa Bassa. He is in high demand on the Northern jazz scene as a player, a composer and arranger.

In February 2005 composer Colin Byrne posted an advertisement on www.jazzinleeds.co.uk where he stated his intentions to form a jazz orchestra that would play exclusively original jazz music. Replies began pouring in and in a matter of weeks, Big Band Byrne was born. The quality of the musicians in the band was of the highest calibre and it was deemed that the band simply had to record.

The band’s debut CD, Leaving for Home was recorded in June 2005. Big Band Byrne is unique in that it is contributing to the essence of the jazz scene in the UK by raising the profile of some of the country’s most talented players. Big Band Byrne is unique in that it produces and plays exclusively original jazz music. Big Band Byrne is the perfect outfit to raise the profile of British jazz with so many talented musicians playing high quality original music.

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311
Album Review

The Colin Byrne Jazz Orchestra: Leaving for Home

Read "Leaving for Home" reviewed by Jack Bowers


Even though it veers occasionally into choppy waters, this ambitious album by the Colin Byrne Jazz Orchestra starts on an even keel and charts a generally straight-ahead course before crashing headlong onto the shoals of free jazz. Among comparable ensembles, the one that most immediately came to my mind is the Mingus Big Band, which should give aficionados an idea of Byrne's game plan and mindset.

Byrne, whom I assume is Irish--the orchestra is British-based and was recorded (live) at ...

237
Album Review

Big Band Byrne: Leaving For Home

Read "Leaving For Home" reviewed by Edward Blanco


Leaving for Home is the bold and brash big band debut from the new Big Band Byrne, Colin Byrne's jazz orchestra from Leeds, United Kingdom. In February 2005 the composer/drummer went on the internet and advertised on Jazz in Leeds to attract musicians interested in playing original music in a new band. The result was the birth of the seventeen-piece Big Band Byrne, which rumbles through original contemporary charts reminiscent of the Ellington and Mingus bands of the past. This ...

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Leaving For Home

TDCB Records
2006

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Talking

From: Leaving For Home
By The Colin Byrne Jazz Orchestra

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