The National Youth Jazz Orchestra is a glittering showcase for the UK’s finest young professional jazz musicians, combining a hard-swinging rhythm section and hugely talented soloists to bring you the very best in big-band jazz. Tonight they will be joined by special guest trumpeters Yazz Ahmed and Laura Jurd.

Tonight’s programme will celebrate female contributions to jazz through history; as instrumentalists, such as 1930’s trombonist Melba Liston; as composers like Mary-Lou Williams and Maria Schneider; as band-leaders, lyricists and more, including Lil Hardin Armstrong.

Mercury Nominee Laura Jurd provides the centrepiece of this evening’s performance in her contemporary reimagining of Mary Lou Williams’ 1945 Zodiac Suite, which was supported by PRS Foundation’s The Open Fund.