When you are used to hearing the National Youth Jazz Orchestra set off depth-charges at close range at Ronnie Scott’s it takes some time to adjust to the acoustics of the Albert Hall. But if this performance wasn’t as compelling as the big band’s post-new year display in Frith Street, it still proved that the musicians can hold their own on the grandest of stages.
A bigger problem lay in programming. Opening with Duke Ellington’s Rockin’ in Rhythm gave the players, energetically conducted by Mark Armstrong, a chance to loosen their muscles and swing heartily. But the evening lost crucial