Yabba Dabba Doo! It's Jazz Toon Time

Wednesday, October 9th, 2013

The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra (SNJO), directed by Tommy Smith, presents Jazz Toons featuring special guest Jacqui Dankworth. This autumn, The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra (SNJO) and their very special guest Jacqui Dankworth will be delivering some very early seasonal presents in the bendy shape of wild and wacky Looney Toons, Big Screen Gems and evergreen songs from timeless Disney classics.

Cartoon cavalcades and big theme music epitomize the magic of the movies and these musical delights find a natural home in the bosom of the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra (SNJO); a serious outfit that reveres the notes but plays with a great big smile on its face.

They come fresh from twin triumphs performing their Spirit of Duke tribute at this year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and successful concerts with Branford Marsalis playing the music of Wayne Shorter. The packed houses and rave reviews that followed have been testimony to the good time had by all.

Now they are joined by Jacqui Dankworth, one of the most highly regarded and versatile singers in the UK. She is also a highly expressive vocal artist who is equally accomplished in classical, jazz, folk, blues and Broadway styles. Jacqui has already startled Scotland with a bravura performance as the doomed Eleanor in American Lulu staged at this year’s Edinburgh Festival by The Opera Company.

Jazz and the movies grew up together in much the same way as many of us grew up with these wonderful films. Musical directors like Raymond Scott, Carl Stalling, Hoyt Curtin, Scott Bradley, Marty Paich and Ralph Carmichael are arguably obscure names today; but they had orchestral vision, infinite wit and an umbilical connection with the music of the era - Jazz. They made the music work as hard as the characters and the voice-over artists in order to squeeze every giggle, squeal and peal of laughter from an audience.

Jazz Toons will be family entertainment at its all-out, show-stopping best with the biggest movie themes and the brightest tunes from Hollywood. Who, after all, could resist the opportunity to march along with Mickey Mouse to meet The Flintstones, or Wish Upon a Star shining down from a fabled Arabian night sky? Be shaken and stirred too as the SNJO join OO7 on yet another Mission:Impossible in a galaxy, far, far away.

For more information visit www.snjo.co.uk