Jazz breaking news: Music For Youth Celebrates Fortieth Anniversary With Albert Hall Gig

The concert, which takes place as part of the schools prom series which begins today, will feature an ensemble made up of past and present MFY performers showcasing Jason Yarde’s improvisations, as well as a performance from Roger Argente, principal bass trombone with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Also on the night composer Chris Steiner is to showcase a piece he has been commissioned to create, which draws on the breadth of styles and instruments within the Schools Prom and reflects MFY’s history and future.

Yarde performed with the MFY Prom when he was 16, so for him it will be something of a homecoming and one which he says he’s “really looking forward to, performing alongside MFY’s young musicians and past alumni,” in an evening’s performance which “brings together an eclectic mix of genres.”

Having gone on to perform with his own bands, Yarde has also been keeping busy performing and composing in the years since he last performed with MFY. After graduating from Middlesex University and spending a year studying with Joe Lovano and Steve Wilson, he has gone on to write music for dance, musical theatre, opera and TV. All of which serve to highlight Yarde’s broad taste in music ranging from hip hop to forward thinking jazz and classical music.

Music for Youth, a charity founded in 1970, hosts performance opportunities for young people at over 70 venues each season. MFY chief executive, Lincoln Abbotts, describes this gig on Wednesday as “the tip of the iceberg” which will present talented “musicians from professional orchestras, composers, those working within broadcasting, school teachers and those for whom music is now part of a quite different career.”

– Colm Doyle

For more go to www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/school-proms/default.aspx