SNYJO Big Band Jazz in the Afternoon

SNYJO are playing Cottiers on Sunday 7 February, a matinee that brings together Scotland's finest young jazz musicians for an afternoon of big band jazz. It's a big sound in a West End room, and the whole thing is built around the enduring power of the big band format — that wall of brass and rhythm that doesn't really have an equivalent in a smaller ensemble.

The performance is billed as SNYJO Big Band Jazz in the Afternoon, and the programme is described as one of creativity, energy and serious groove. That last bit is the key: big band jazz works best when it's swinging, and that's exactly what they're aiming for here. It's a full-band set, so you'll have the whole section working together rather than a few soloists taking turns.

As the name suggests, this is a youth jazz orchestra, so the stage will be full of some of the best young players in the country. It's a good chance to hear them in a proper big band setting, where the focus is on the ensemble sound rather than any one individual. If you've got a soft spot for the big band tradition, this is exactly the kind of thing it's made for.

It's a matinee, so it's an afternoon thing rather than a late night. The music runs from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Cottiers, 93-95 Hyndland Street, Glasgow West End, G11 5PU. Two hours of big band jazz on a Sunday afternoon — plenty of time to get your fill and still be home for dinner.