JAZZ

The National Youth Orchestra of Scotland’s associated Jazz Orchestra has been around now for a decade, and issued a CD featuring the music of pianist Nikki Yeoh seven years ago. This second disc features two suites by Scottish composers at opposite ends of their careers, interleaved with arrangements of two familiar jazz standards.

Malcolm Edmonstone is the co-director of NYJoS with Andrew Bain, and his specially commissioned Scotland Suite features his co-director on drums. If not especially memorable, his settings of old Scots songs from the McGibbon collection are nicely put together and capably played by the young band. Veteran trumpeter Duncan Lamont’s brassier and more dynamic Carnival of the Animals provides a contrasting approach to big band writing across its six colourful movements.