A NEAR-CAPACITY audience was thoroughly entertained at a Christmas concert by the widely acclaimed Midland Youth Jazz Orchestra (MYJO).
Organised by the Rotary Club of Redditch and held at Trinity High School, all funds raised will go to the Rotarians’ local charity, Batchley Support Group, and MYJO’s work in music education.
And the band, under the baton of music director John Ruddick, MBE, didn’t disappoint.
Their two sets were packed with classics, together with plenty of seasonal material that had toes tapping and people swaying.
Mr Ruddick, an in-demand jazz trumpeter and flugel-horn player, has performed with many top ensembles including the BBC Big Band, the Syd Lawrence Orchestra, the Shirley Bassey Orchestra and the Stanley Black Orchestra.
He was awarded the MBE in 2014 for his services to music education.
Joining him at the front of the stage was wonderful singer Katy Gaskin. Her performance included a duet with Tom Lindsay for the smoocher’s classic ‘Baby It’s Cold Outside’
