Ken Mathieson's Classic Jazz Orchestra

Ken Mathieson's Classic Jazz Orchestra is an award-winning octet based in Edinburgh which explores the whole history of jazz from ragtime to contemporary in an entertaining and informative way. Expect great musicianship, toe-tappingly joyous music and plenty of fun for all ages.

Formed in 2004, the Classic Jazz Orchestra (CJO) is an 8-piece professional band based in Edinburgh whose mission is to explore the fabulously varied back-catalogue of jazz in an informative and entertaining way. Its remit, however, is to re-interpret, not simply replicate, jazz styles covering the period from the early 1900s to 1980 and beyond, while still paying respect to the original source material. In short, you're likely to hear everything from Jelly Roll Morton to Charles Mingus, sometimes in the course of one number!

That's a stylistic spread that would be unimaginable but for the versatility and professionalism of CJO’s members, who are among the finest soloists and section players in Europe today: Billy Hunter (tpt), Phil O’Malley (tbn), Dick Lee, Konrad Wiszniewski, Martin Foster (reeds), Paul Harrison (pno), Roy Percy (bs) and Ken Mathieson (dms/arr).

Their versatility was recognised in the 2009 Scottish Jazz Awards, in which CJO won the Best Band Category, and in Jazz Journal International Magazine’s 2011 Critics Poll in which the band’s CD with Alan Barnes of the music of Benny Carter was nominated for New CD of the Year.

Supported by the National Lottery through Creative Scotland.