THE Invicta Jazz Orchestra (IJO) was formed 15 years ago, and over the years has grown from strength to strength. One of its founder members is our Music Director Scott Jenkins – a very talented musician who also plays frequently with The Jive Aces.Â
We are a band of 30 friendly, talented, amateur musicians. We meet every Thursday evening for practice and always welcome new members. IJO plays regularly at various local events, including the Sunday concerts at Tonbridge Castle and festivals in Smarden, Hastings and Faversham, and also the Whitstable Oyster Festival.
This year, however, we have added something rather different to our musical repertoire by twinning with Le Liberty Band in Arras in the north of France. We’ve done two joint concerts already in Arras, and the second one we performed at La Place des Héros in the town centre, which was part of the events marking the centenary of the First World War.
This month, Le Liberty will visit us for concerts in St Dunstan’s Church in Cranbrook on Friday June 9, and at the EM Forster Theatre the following evening, June 10. Both bands play a lively mix of jazz styles and standards, as well as pieces from the Big Band, Latin, Fusion and Funk genres.
If you can’t make it along to those dates, then you can catch us a week later at the Tonbridge Carnival on June 18, as well as in August at the Sunday concerts at the town’s historic castle.
The Invicta Jazz Orchestra and Le Liberty Band play each venue at 7.30pm. Tickets to the Cranbrook event cost £8, with proceeds going to the church’s upkeep.
Tickets cost £10 for the EM Forster Theatre concert, with profits going to Macmillan Nurses. For more information, visit www.invictajazz.com and www.libertyband.fr
