In 1959, Englishman Neil Ardley (1937-2004) moved from Bristol to London, after finishing his chemistry studies. He had already been performing in various groups at university, playing the saxophone and the piano. He wrote his first arrangement in 1964, which he brought to The New Jazz Orchesra. Not long after that, he became conductor of said orchestra. As time went on he started writing longer pieces, such as A Symphony of Amaranths.
sources:
– the new jazz orchestra western union london 1965
(Vocalion CDSML 8427)
– A Symphony of Amaranths by Neil Ardley
(DUSKCD 107)