Sean Trane In the mid-60’s London scene, the NJO was one of those unavoidable and XXX big-band groups (originally started as Clive Burrows Orchestra), where almost everyone who was anyone on the scene or almost transited through the group, which was normally the vehicle for composer Neil Ardley. You’ll find in the WR album, among others, stellar names like Ian Carr (of RCQ and Nucleus fame), Barb Thompson, Tony Reeves, John Hiseman (all three of future Colosseum fame), Trevor Watts (future Amalgam) plus a bunch more of lesser-known, but no-less gifted musicians like Paul Rutherford, etc. The line-up would fluctuate to include many other household names.

As I said above, the NJO was normally Ardley’s compositional project; but in the present album, most of the tracks are cover or reprises of other composers, re-arranged by different members of the group. Indeed maybe the band was not ready yet for its ambitions, and they concentrated on getting on the same wavelength. Aside the one original track penned by Ardley), Shades Of Blue (with its Spanish Sketch feel), the album consists of Miles track, like So What, Milestones, some Gerry Mulligan or Leonard Bernstein pieces and a few more, all re-arranged by either Ardley, Carr, Carter and some more. The general live mood (album recorded over one gig in early 65) does not differ much from the original soundscapes of the covers, the whole remaining rather standard-y in the 50’s mode.

A rather unexciting first album that was still seeing the members finding their marks (IMHO), but things would get much more exciting and adventurous with 68’s Déjeuner Sur L’Herbe, which has still to fond its way onto the CD format. In the meantime WR did get its CD release, but outside my fave Shades Of Blue (also present on the RCQ debut album of the same name), there isn’t much to arouse my enthusiasm, so don’t expect me to throw it much flowers.