Celebrating the Life & Music of Bill Ashton OBE 1936–2025

Celebrating the Life & Music of Bill Ashton OBE 1936–2025Tickets on Sale 13th October 10am.

Three extraordinary big bands. One very special night.

Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra

BBC Big Band

National Youth Jazz OrchestraOn what would have been his 90th birthday, Union Chapel hosts a remarkable celebration of the life, music and legacy of Bill Ashton OBE – founder of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra and one of the most influential figures in British jazz.

For more than four decades, Bill created opportunities for young musicians to learn their craft where it mattered: in a band, on a stage and alongside exceptional players. Through NYJO, generations of musicians were given the chance to rehearse, perform, tour, write, arrange and discover what kind of musicians they might become.

The roll call of those who passed through the orchestra is extraordinary. Amy Winehouse sang with NYJO as a teenager, while generations of leading British jazz musicians, composers, arrangers, session players and musical directors learned their craft under Bill’s watch. His influence can still be heard across British jazz, the West End, recording studios, orchestras and stages throughout the world.

So perhaps the most fitting way to celebrate Bill is with an enormous amount of music including many of his own charts.

For this unique concert hosted by Bill’s son Miles Ashton, three of Britain’s great big bands appear together on the same bill: the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, the organisation Bill created in 1965; the internationally renowned BBC Big Band; and, closing the evening, the Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra under the baton of Pete Long.

Across three hours of live music, they will celebrate not simply Bill’s life, but the musical world he helped to create – bringing together different generations of players, including musicians whose own careers bear the imprint of the opportunities, encouragement and sometimes formidable standards he provided.

The show will feature the premiere of Paul Hart’s setting of a poem by the Irish poet William Allingham. A NYJO alumnus, Hart (1954–2022) was a prolific composer and musician. The evening concludes with a particularly poignant performance of another of his works, Remembrance, with acclaimed flautist Gareth Lockrane joining the Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra as a special guest.

Bill Ashton devoted much of his life to giving musicians a place to play. On his 90th birthday, many of them come together to play for him.

Please note that Margins will not be running before this event. More Information:

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The venue is seating only. All seats are unreserved and are taken on a first come first serve basis. Please arrive early before event door times if you have preferred seats. Due to the nature of our venue, please be prepared to queue for entry.

The venue is fully accessible, with use of ramps and the upstairs bar is accessible with use of a platform lift. Please email [email protected] with any specific accessibility requirements, that we should be aware of, as soon as you purchase your ticket as requests are dealt with on a first come, first serve basis.

The bar is located on the first floor of the venue and will be open from the stated door time and remain open after the show.

Alcohol consumption will be limited to the bar area only, it is not permitted to take alcohol to the main chapel space. An array of soft drinks and snacks will also be available and are permitted in the main space - please note the Union Chapel bar and kiosk accept card payment only. Strictly no food or drink may be brought from outside into the venue. Water bottles must be emptied before entering the venue, with refilling stations available inside.