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The New Jazz Orchestra is a British jazz big band formed in 1963, originally conceived during a late-night discussion between Clive Burrows and Les Carter. They made their debut at The Green Man pub in southeast London in December 1963, initially billed as The Bird/Burrows Big Band. After Ian Bird left the band in 1964, they briefly called themselves The Neoteric Jazz Orchestra before adopting the name New Jazz Orchestra. Following Burrows' departure to join Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band, Neil Ardley took over as director. Ardley’s leadership transformed the NJO into a uniquely voiced ensemble that, while acknowledging influences from Duke Ellington and Gil Evans, expressed a distinctively English sensibility characterized as ‘pastoral.’ The band’s sound combined classical orchestration with jazz elements, showcasing a well-balanced blend that went beyond a mere third-stream experiment, demonstrating their ability to swing effectively.

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