27/06/2006 Sheldon Nunn. www.jusjazz.com

Colin Byrne, one of the finest interpreters of jazz in the United Kingdom. ..he has also included a jazz dimension seldom seen in mainstream America—an amalgamation of big band style with underlying influences of pianist Duke Ellington and bassist Charles Mingus. Leaving For Home is a passion filled musical delight, a recording that goes the distance towards building a foundation of energized exuberance, a truly amazing piece of work from the United Kingdom of jazz. Colin Byrne and big band jazz go together with a breath of fresh air seldom experienced in recent years. As you listen to Leaving For Home, place the album under the letter ‘B’ for a brilliantly conceived recording that is one of the finest recordings of its kind to date.

26/06/2006 Edward Blanco. www.allaboutjazz.com

Leaving For Home takes one on a nice ride to a destination, connecting new material in one riveting performance. The album is replete with solo journeys from players who represent the top echelons of the British jazz world. Byrne has carved out a unique place of his own with this audacious, fiery recording in the finest big band tradition.

Reprinted with permission. Copyright (c) 2006. AllAboutJazz.com and Edward Blanco.

01/06/2006 Tony Augarde. www.jazzviews.co.uk

Byrne’s arrangements are imaginative and manage to escape many of the big-band clichés. The band displays a high standard of ensemble work, with punchy brass and well-drilled saxes. Burkill contributes some fine tenor-sax work.

21/04/2006 Peter Quinn, Jazzwise Magazine

The orchestra whips up an absolute storm...it's a white knuckle ride of burning solos, careering textures and propulsive energy...startlingly good debut.

06/04/2006 Ron Burnett, York Press

So, if you imagined that the big band was a near-extinct behemoth, dinosaur-like, imagine instead a huge, gleaming limousine, a pride of lions, a herd of proud Arab steeds. Suffice to say that if you rate the crisp big bands of Buddy Rich and Thad Jones/Mel Lewis, with a touch of full-throated Kenton, do not miss this stunning 7-track album.

03/04/2006 Chris Parker. www.vortexjazz.co.uk

the band exhibit an infectious enthusiasm both for each other’s playing and for the material Byrne has provided for them, and the resulting album is a joyous celebration of big-band values: tight ensemble work, freewheeling solo features, punchy riff playing, fierce interaction between sections.

14/02/2006 John Killoch. mainlybigbands.co.uk

A bit exceptional!

03/02/2006 Robert Gibson. 96.7 fm BCB Radio.

Very Impressive.

15/10/2005 Jazz in Leeds. www.jazzinleeds.co.uk

…a revelation in terms of power and control. compelling big-band arrangements… kept the audience on its feet, both in terms of paying attention and at the end whilst shouting for more…