Following closely on the compact disc produced by West Lothian Schools Brass Band, Lothian Schools Jazz Orchestra under its director Jim O’Malley has issued one of its own.
“White Heat” offers 11 numbers in a wide range of skills and style. I particularly enjoyed Richard Michael’s “Stroma Samba”, a lively big band original with strong Latin American rhythms and a Billie Holliday ballad “God Bless the Child”, featuring a solo by Phil O’Malley.
The players, who are all still at school, are joined by professional jazz musicians Eddie Severn (trumpet) and David Milligan (piano). The disc can be obtained from the music department of Balerno High School, 5 Bridge Road, Edinburgh EH14 7AQ.
