Swiss Jazz Orchestra

The Swiss Jazz Orchestra is a Swiss big band founded in 2003 and originally emerged from the university big band of the Swiss Jazz School (part of the Bern University of the Arts since 2003 ). One of the special features of this big band are their weekly Monday concerts between October and May in the Bierhübeli , Bern. In over 500 concerts (as of 2015) in Bierhübeli and elsewhere, the Swiss Jazz Orchestra worked with outstanding Swiss musicians such as George Gruntz , Andy Scherrer , Franco Ambrosetti , Domenic Landolf , Matthieu Michel and Houry Dora Apartian , but also with international greats in the music world like Joshua Redman , Peter Erskine , Bob Mintzer , Paquito D'Rivera , Grégoire Maret , Jim McNeely , Anat Cohen , Alex Sipiagin , Roberta Gambarini , Jerry Bergonzi , Guillermo Klein , Sandy Patton . So far, the Swiss Jazz Orchestra has released 10 CD productions, some in collaboration with the musicians mentioned, and some other collaborations, including a collaboration with Swiss rock and pop musicians such as Polo Hofer , Büne Huber , Kuno Lauener and Heidi Happy and Sina on Buebetröim . Another CD, for example, is a performance of Tanzendes Licht (2009) by the composer and trumpeter Markus Stockhausen in collaboration with the Camerata Bern . Due to the large number of concerts, the band's repertoire includes more than 1000 arrangements and original compositions by band members.

history

The Swiss Jazz Orchestra (SJO) was founded long before the big band's revival in pop music. Its origins lie in the tradition of the big band of the Swiss Jazz School (SJS) in Bern . The crux of a university big band seems to be inherent in its nature: the musicians grow from playing together, but when they have completed their studies and are qualified, they leave the university and thus also the university big band. Out of the desire to continue a big band beyond the limits of their studies, the SJO was born , which performed on Sundays during the first season in Marian's Jazzroom .

organization

The foundation was the first step on the path of the SJO , which has been meandering through the Swiss jazz scene for 10 years . But the fact that we can celebrate this anniversary also lies in the foundations that the Bern surgeon and jazz expert Ulrich Althaus created for the orchestra: It was he who founded the Swiss Jazz Orchestra (VSJO) association on February 9, 2004, which was responsible for the financial and forms the organizational support of the SJO and managed to get a considerable part of the Bernese public to support the project at this stage . After Ulrich Althaus, the office was continued by Hans Rudolf Isliker and last year Peter Knutti was elected the current President of the VSJO. For years, the management was taken over by the musicians themselves ( Till Grünewald , Klaus Widmer , Johannes Walter and Thomas Knuchel ), until Angela Schenker was hired part-time for this job in 2012 and is now managing the company together with Peter Knutti and the orchestra representatives.

Monday concerts

The Monday Big Band Jazz Nights , which are divided into different thematic and stylistic themes, enable the orchestra to regularly try out and prove itself in a wide variety of grooves. No other big band (in Switzerland ) can boast such an established and regular program of events. The effort for an orchestra to develop and perform a partially to completely new repertoire every week should not be underestimated. The Monday concerts are the foundation of the SJO , the prerequisite and condition for demanding projects with CD production as well as diverse concert activities at home and abroad, which contribute to increasing the reputation.

The program of the Monday Big Band Jazz Nights is rotating in the light of one of the following topics:

Groove night

The groove night , with strongly rhythmically oriented music.

Latin night

During the "Latin Night", the focus is on the music of South and Central America. The SJO continues to have a wide repertoire of stylistically diverse arrangements of well-known names.

Tribute night

One Monday a month, this tribute night is dedicated to a musician or an overarching theme from jazz history. The orchestra revives forgotten or well-known and popular great musicians of the past.

Gala night

The fourth category of these weekly events are the Gala Nights . Guest instrumentalists in particular are invited to these concerts as soloists, sometimes also as guest leaders, in order to make the program even more varied.

Separation of powers in the musical direction

What is also special about this orchestra is that it does not have one leader, but several who come from its own ranks. Philip Henzi explains why this is so : “The fact that the musical direction of the SJO does not consist of a single band leader can actually be traced back to the beginning of the band, it was conceived and founded by three band leaders. Since we appreciate and depend on the vigor, motivation and idealism that each band member brings, we would like to see all interests represented in a democratic way in the management as well. This is probably the reason for the consistency of our core formation and for the small number of departures. "

CDs

The versatility is also reflected in the numerous CD productions of the SJO . Ten CD productions were made under the direction of various big band leaders.

Live with Pepe Lienhard (2005)

Live concert from the first year of the SJO's existence with guest conductor Pepe Lienhard ( Live with Pepe Lienhard , ( Mons Records , 2005)).

Paul Klee (2006)

The CD production of the Paul Klee project (2006), compositions inspired by pictures by the painter Paul Klee , with the American pianist, composer and arranger Jim McNeely , received the highest praise from national and international experts.

"The creative soloists, strong ensemble playing, and versatile rhythm section of the SJO place them squarely within the ranks of Europe's top jazz orchestras. Keep your eyes and ears on them!" -Jim McNeely

Buebetröim I / II (2007/2009)

On Buebetröim, the SJO featured dialect and pop singers such as B. Sina , Büne Huber , Marc Sway , Polo Hofer and Kuno Lauener ( I schänke dir mis Härz ) on ( Buebetröim , (2007/2009)).

Dancing Light (2008)

In 2008, the album Tanzendes Licht & Trimorphum ( Aktivraum AG ) was created with the Camerata Bern , Markus Stockhausen and Philip Henzi .

Close Encounter (2009)

The guest soloist on Close Encounter ( Mons Records , 2009) was bandoneon player Michael Zisman .

Lucidity (2013)

It almost seems as if you want to quote yourself or think back to your own roots, 25 years had passed from the time Bert Joris took over the direction of the jazz school big band to the end of the year, before which Lucidity recorded under his direction has been. It is also important to pay special attention to Philip Henzi : Each of the Swiss Jazz Orchestra's CDs contains at least arrangements, and many also contain compositions by him. Lucidity comes entirely from his pen.

Live at International Jazz Festival Bern (2014)

This is a live CD from the 38th Bern International Jazz Festival : Recordings from May 2013 by the SJO with the Argentine-Swiss bandoneonist Michael Zisman , the Cuban saxophonist Paquito D'Rivera and the Brazilian trumpeter Claudio Roditi . The music moves at a musical crossroads between jazz and Caribbean music, such as Afro Cuban jazz on the one hand, and Brazilian music such as samba and bossa nova on the other.

Sincerely Yours, (2014)

With the album Sincerely Yours, Swiss Jazz Orchestra, 10 Jahre Live , the Swiss Jazz Orchestra thanks its listeners and especially its regular audience for the loyalty and interest during its 10th anniversary in the 2013/2014 season. It contains a cross-section of the rich repertoire that the Swiss Jazz Orchestra has acquired since its inception.

Pools (2016)

The album Pools was created in April 2015, a recording of the guest performance at the International Jazz Festival Bern , which gives the American jazz fusion pioneers Mike Mainieri (on vibraphone) and Peter Erskine (drums) and the outstanding soloists from the orchestra due space . Most of the pieces come from "Mainieri" and his band Steps Ahead , whose drummer (with interruptions for over 30 years) is Erskine. He played mainly at Weather Report , with which he made a name for himself - therefore compositions by Wayne Shorter and Jaco Pastorius complement the present selection. Pools - live at Jazzfestival Bern is the second CD of the SJO as part of a collaboration with the International Jazz Festival Bern .

Culture Prize 2010 of the Burgergemeinde Bern

In 2010 the “Swiss Jazz Orchestra” was awarded the Burgergemeinde Bern Culture Prize. The Bernburgers particularly honored the success story of the SJO , which builds on the Monday concerts in the Bierhübeli concert hall , which take place over eight months with a density and quality that is unique in Europe. The community also praised the international reputation that has been built up through regular collaboration with well-known band leaders, arrangers and renowned musicians and the fact that, despite the modest fees, the musicians give first-class concerts, which testifies to their commitment. Receiving the culture award also had an impact on the Swiss Jazz Orchestra itself and on the future plans of this ambitious orchestra. On the one hand, the award is of course a reward, but on the other hand, it is also accompanied by the challenge of making targeted investments in a sustainable future. The SJO is also increasingly positioning itself as a platform for the best young jazz musicians, so that they can prove themselves as artists in a segment that has become more important with modern training. In addition, the orchestra has committed itself to becoming even more attractive in the gala nights with well-known guests, because the variety of programs has proven to be the key to quality assurance of the orchestra. Future projects should further establish the orchestra in the top league.

occupation

The line-up of the Swiss Jazz Orchestra has changed in the ten years of its existence: While some positions have been filled by the same people since it was founded, some have changed considerably. The list of previous orchestra members reads accordingly varied:

Saxophones

• Lead Alto Sax: George Robert (until 2006), Adrian Pflugshaupt
• 2. Alto Sax: Phil Stöckli (until 2004), Adrian Pflugshaupt (2004–2006), Jürg Bucher (2007 to 2010), Reto Suhner (since 2011)
• 1st tenor sax: Till Grünewald
• 2nd tenor sax: Klaus Widmer (until 2011), Jürg Bucher
• Baritone Sax: Daniel Durrer (until 2004), Neta Noren (2004 to 2007), Marc Schödler , Matthias Tschopp

Trumpets

• Lead trumpet: Stephan Geiser (until 2011), David Blaser
• 2nd trumpet: Johannes Walter
• 3rd trumpet: Daniel Woodtli (until 2012), Lukas Thöni
• 4th trumpet: Thomas Knuchel

Trumpets

• Lead trombone: Vincent Lachat
• 2nd trombone: René Mosele (until 2007), Stefan Schlegel (since 2008)
• 3rd trombone: Samuel Blaser (until 2004), Bernhard Bamert (2004–2007), Andreas Tschopp
• Bass trombone: Bernhard Bamert (until 2004), Reto Zumstein

Rhythm group

• Piano: Philip Henzi
• Guitar: Nick Perrin (since 2006), Nikolay Karageorgiev (2010 to 2012), Dave Gisler
• Double bass: Lorenz Beyeler
• E-bass: Wolfgang Zwiauer (2004 to 2008), Antonio Schiavano
• Drums: Tobias Friedli (2003 to 2015), Fabian Kuratli (2004 to 2007), Rico Baumann (since 2007), Flo Reichle
• Percussion: Roland Wäger (since 2010)

Representatives

The following musicians have made several and / or longer substitutions in the SJO, sometimes for entire projects:

• Saxes: Reto Anneler , Florian Egli , Dave Feusi , Thomi Geiger , Cédric Gschwind , Rolf Häsler , Matthias Kohler , Simon Stirnimann , Corinne Windler
• Trumpets: Sandro Häsler , Julian Hesse , Linus Hunkeler , Nolan Quinn , Balthasar Streit
• Trumpets: Dirk Amrein , Lukas Briggen , Justin Clark , Dave Montreuil , Pavel Pisanko , Jan Schreiner , Nina Thöni , Adrian Weber , Maro Widmer , Lukas Wyss
• Piano: Stefan Aeby , Florian Favre , Oliver Friedli , Andy Harder
• Guitar: Marco Figini , Max Frankl , Fábio Pinto , Thomas Sauter
• Bass / E-Bass: Giorgos Antoniou , Hans Ermel , André Pousaz , Christoph Utzinger
• Drums / percussion: Pius Baschnagel , Peter Haas , Christoph Mohler , David Stauffacher

Sound engineering

Michael Fink , Kaspar Hochuli , Marco Jeger , Raphael Ochsenbein , Martin Ruch , Jan Stehle , Christoph Utzinger

Discography

• Live with Pepe Lienhard ( Mons Records , 2005)
• Paul Klee (Mons Records, 2006)
• Buebetröim Vol. 1 (Musikvertrieb AG, 2007)
• Dancing Light ( Aktivraum , 2008)
• Close Encounter (Mons Records, 2009)
• Buebetröim Vol. 2 (Musikvertrieb AG, 2009)
• Lucidity (Mons Records, 2011)
• Live @ Jazzfestival Bern (Mons Records, 2014)
• Sincerely Yours (No Label, 2014)
• Pools (Mons Records, 2016)
• Swiss Jazz Orchestra & Guillermo Klein ( Sunnyside Records 2019)

Web links

• Web presence
• Swiss Jazz Orchestra at Discogs (English)
• Swiss Jazz Orchestra at Allmusic (English)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Homepage of the Bierhübeli Bern
2. ↑ Factsheet of the Swiss Jazz Orchestra Archived copy ( memento of the original from January 30, 2017 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
3. ^ Homepage of the Marian's Jazz Room
4. ↑ Johannes Walter: "The Swiss Jazz Orchestra 2003-2013 - Musical Aspects of Development" in: Season Brochure of the Swiss Jazz Orchestra, 2013/2014, Bern 2013, p. 21 ( Memento of the original from September 24, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info : The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
5. ^ Organization of the SJO
6. ↑ Hans R. Isliker: "Letter to the members, sponsors, patrons and friends" in: VSJO Annual Report 2011/2012, Bern 2012, pp. 3–4
7. ↑ Unknown: "Swiss Jazz Orchestra: End of the season in Bierhübeli!" (Media release on the end of the 2011/2012 season from May 30, 2012)
8. ↑ Unknown: “The Swiss Jazz Orchestra reinforces”, in: Der Bund from April 2, 2012, Bern 2012, Bern 2012, p. 5
9. ↑ Hans R. Isliker: “Annual Report of the VSJO 2011/2012”, Bern 2012, p. 5
10. ↑ Quotation from Philip Henzi in: Josephine Nagorsnik: "10 years SJO" in: Season brochure of the Swiss Jazz Orchestra, 2013/2014, Bern 2013, p. 18 ( Memento of the original from September 24, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was used automatically and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
11. ↑ Live with Pepe Lienhard on the side of the Swiss Jazz Orchestra [1]
12. ↑ Jim McNeely about the cooperation with the SJO Paul Klee on the side of the Swiss Jazz Orchestra [2]
13. ↑ Swiss Jazz Orchestra & Kuno - I schänke dir mis Härz - hitparade.ch
14. ↑ Jack Bowers: Chuck Owen & the Jazz Surge / Swiss Jazz Orchestra / The Aggregation (2009) at All About Jazz
15. ↑ Ludicity on the website of the Swiss Jazz Orchestra [3]
16. ↑ Josephine Nagorsnik: “10 years SJO” in: Season Brochure of the Swiss Jazz Orchestra, 2013/2014, Bern 2013, p. 18 ( memento of the original from September 24, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
17. ↑ Swiss Jazz Orchestra feat. Paquito D'Rivera, Claudio Roditi & Michael Zisman - Live at 38th Jazzfestival Bern on the side of the Swiss Jazz Orchestra [4]
18. ↑ Pools on the side of the Swiss Jazz Orchestra [5]
19. ↑ Cultural prizes awarded by the Burgergemeinde Bern
20. ↑ Article from "Der Bund" from February 24, 2010, on the occasion of the award of the culture prize to the SJO ( Memento of the original from September 24, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
21. ↑ Article from the «Podium» from September 1, 2009 ( memento of the original from September 24, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
22. ↑ Johannes Walter: “Cast List”, in: Season Brochure of the Swiss Jazz Orchestra, 2013/2014, Bern 2013, p. 22 ( Memento of the original from September 24, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and not yet checked . Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
23. ↑ "CD Publications", in: Swiss Jazz Orchestra: Season 2013/2014, Bern 2013, p. 10/11 ( Memento of the original from September 24, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked . Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.