Legendary Glasgow-born saxophonist Bobby Wellins will lead Europe’s finest large-scale jazz ensemble, the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, as they play his Culloden Moor Suite at Eden Court on Sunday 30 October at 7.30pm. With Culloden lying so close to Inverness, this concert is sure to be extra memorable as the melodic music sweeps the listener back to the Jacobite sounds of battle echoing through Eden Court.

The haunting sound of Bobby Wellins’ saxophone will forever be intertwined with Stan Tracey’s classic 1960s recording of Under Milk Wood which fifty years on, is still being continually honed as a style of Scottish blues that borrows equally from the bagpipe and great tenor sax traditions and was recently voted favourite album of all time by readers of Jazz UK.  This concert is a rare opportunity to see the South Coast-based jazz legend on home turf and accompanied by a world-class orchestra.

The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, with 75-year-old Wellins as their guest artist, will perform his Culloden Moor and Caledonian Suites. Written in the 1960s, these rarely visited masterpieces are long deserving of a wider audience.   Wellins is well known for finding musical inspiration in great Scottish historical events and literature. His Culloden Moor Suite is an eloquent and moving lament for the fallen in battle and a beautiful, soulful celebration of one of Scotland’s most haunting historical locations.  While his Caledonian Suite, inspired by James Barke’s books about Robert Burns, richly evokes the sounds of Scotland’s landscape and life.  His original scores have been specially rearranged for the SNJO by some of the world’s finest jazz musicians – Florian Ross (Germany), Geoffrey Keezer (USA), Chris Greive (Australia), Christian Jacob (France) and Tommy Smith (Scotland).  It is a much-anticipated performance promising atmosphere, drama, creativity and spiritually uplifting music.

Wellins is passionate about developing music and musicians.  Bobby comments:       “The Culloden Moor Suite was written as five separate pieces rather than a single composed work aimed to bring out the best qualities of each individual player.  Florian has done a marvellous job of the arranging – melodic and full of emotion to capture the moods of the piece”

Tickets from the Box Office: 01463 234234 or online: www.eden-court.co.uk