Jazz breaking news: Tim Garland and the National Youth Jazz Orchestra hit the Proms

This high-class finishing school for jazz professionals is sounding snappier than ever under trumpeter/arranger Mark Armstrong, who took over the baton when Ashton recently retired. Before the concert Armstrong addressed a reception for fund raising friends of NYJO at the Royal College of Music. Speaking eloquently without notes, he stressed his desire to preserve the band's sound, something achieved over the years by its members writing and arranging specially for it, and the need to remain cutting-edge by spicing up the iconic old favourites with challenging new material, including special commissions from leading UK composers.

As good as his word, he later directed a fast-paced evening of old and new music which demonstrated that, for brilliant ensemble work and solo strength in depth, the current lineup is one of the best for some time. Sandwiched between such all-time favourites as Duke Ellington's ‘Rockin' in Rhythm’ and Thelonious Monk's ‘Round Midnight’ were ‘Hush’, by pianist Nikki Iles, and ‘Know Where You Are’, by trumpeter Kenny Wheeler, two elegant commissions which enabled the orchestra to speak as a unit for minutes on end. ‘Agro Alegria’, written and performed by guest-star saxman Tim Garland, abetted by drum firebrand Mark Mondesir, gave the band an even sterner test, with flamenco-derived sections and complex rhythmic passages. They sailed through it.

Rarely, if ever, has this ever-youthful outfit been let loose on extended orchestral works which, make no mistake, are the equal of any other sophisticated contemporary music heard during the Proms. It suited the noble old Royal Albert Hall perfectly. And when the band's latest crop of soloists was finally let off the leash, the results were spectacular. Riley Stone-Lonergan, a brilliant young Irish tenorist snapped up by NYJO after winning one of last year's Yamaha Jazz Scholar Awards, was the evening's outstanding player. Others with obvious star quality were forceful trombonist Callum Au, high-note trumpet screamer Louis Dowdeswell, coolly accurate guitarist Rob Luft, speedy altoist Jim Gold and confident vocalist Emma Smith, not forgetting Scott Chapman, the band's slickest drummer since the much missed Chris Dagley.

– Jack Massarik