A PROGRAMME of funk, jazz, soul and blues got an enthusiastic reception at the debut of the newly-formed St Albans Jazz Ensemble (STAJE) at the Abbey Theatre this month.

The concert featured performances by young local musicians and vocalists, some of whom are still at university or college and, in some cases, studying music. They were joined by full-time musicians and others who wanted to keep up their playing.

The programme included compositions by Miles Davis, Jill Scott, Sammy Nestico, Lalo Schiffrin and others, mostly arranged by the band’s two musical directors Andy Baddaley and Bob Power.

Among the performers were Toby Goodman, Tim Deal, Dom Leach and Jonny Pinder in the rhythm section and solists or backing vocalists Kai Addams-Lambert, Emma Brown, Emma Smith, Grace Wright, Kat Deal, Alice Simpson and Lucy Dean.

The next STAJE course and concert is being planned for some time in late March or April and musicians wanting to join the STAJE project should email Bob or Andy on stajeband@gmail.com