Zurich Jazz Orchestra
The Zurich Jazz Orchestra ( ZJO ) is a Zurich- based big band . The ZJO was founded in 1995.
history
1995–2000, foundation
Intended as a rehearsal band and forum for local composers and arrangers, the Zurich Jazz Orchestra was founded in 1995 by André Bellmont, now a lecturer at the ZHdK . On every first Tuesday of the month, in addition to conventional titles, compositions by Swiss musicians were regularly premiered in Miller's Studio Zurich . In 1999 the saxophonist David Regan took over the direction of the orchestra. At the same time, there was the possibility of performing every Tuesday instead of just once a month until it closed in the Inkognito Club in Zurich's Westend.
2000–2003, restructuring
When Stefan Schlegel took over the musical direction in June 2000, the orchestra, along with Bettina Uhlmann, also became administrative director. As a result, the organizational structures were streamlined and a patrons' association was founded to promote the orchestra. With the “Moods” jazz club in Schiffbau , the Zurich Jazz Orchestra also received a new concert platform, where it gave its first concert in October 2000.
2003–2006, first CD
As the new musical director, Frank Sikora was commissioned in September 2003 to produce a first CD with the orchestra. This was published with the title Beyond Swiss Tradition and was made possible through partnerships with DRS 2 (co-producer), Universal Music Switzerland (label) and “Presence Switzerland”. The ZJO held the opening concert of the “Moods” jazz club under the motto “Tradition - handed down - breaking through - breaking up”, using multimedia means for the first time . In addition to the concert series in “Moods”, the so-called workshop concerts were launched in 2005 in collaboration with the jazz department of the then HMT Zurich (University of Music and Theater, now ZHdK) with the aim of presenting more unconventional big band literature and also presenting young people To offer Swiss composers a platform. One graduate of the jazz department has the opportunity to sit in the orchestra for each concert. Analogous to the classical music, the ZJO offers students the opportunity to do an internship in a professional big band .
2006–2008, second CD
In September 2006 Rainer Tempel took over the musical direction of the ZJO, which celebrated its 10th anniversary just under six months later. The second CD New Plans with arrangements by Tempel was released in 2008 in cooperation with Radio DRS 2 and Universal Music Switzerland. Also in 2008, the open soundcheck was introduced before the concerts in the “Moods” jazz club: the commented soundcheck gives students from the Zurich Youth Music School an insight into the rehearsal and the musical work of a big band.
2009–2012, major projects
In addition to the continuation of the concerts in “Moods” and the workshop concerts (traineeship) in collaboration with the Zurich University of the Arts, an international composition competition for big bands for young composers was launched for the first time in March 2009 : on the condition that they were not yet 30 years old had completed, the participants should submit a score tailored to the ZJO. With Gil Evans ' version of Gershwin's Porgy & Bess , the Zurich Jazz Orchestra revived the collaboration between Miles Davis and Gil Evans in a double concert in April 2009 . Miles Davis' trumpet part was performed by Till Brönner .
2010–2012, first tour, third CD and theater production
With guest appearances in Munich , Stuttgart and Graz , the ZJO went on tour for the first time in nearby countries in spring 2011. In the same spring, the orchestra recorded its third CD under the title Song in a repeated co-production with DRS 2 . The program put together by Rainer Tempel consisted of a combination of big band and vocals, which included both classical pieces and pop songs . On September 27, 2011, the premiere of a co-production with Theater Rigiblick and Daniel Rohr took place: The monologue Miles , written by Henning Mankell , and the pendulum clock from Montreux , framed by Miles Davis' Sketches of Spain, were presented . This collaboration was so well received that additional performances took place until 2016. After almost three years , the Zurich Jazz Orchestra concluded its Gil Evans & Miles Davis trilogy in February 2012 with the production of “Miles Ahead” .
2013-2016
After seven years as musical director, Rainer Tempel left the ZJO in April 2013. Under the interim direction of Daniel Schenker , the Zurich Jazz Orchestra took a year to work with various applicants on a trial basis. The German Steffen Schorn was ultimately elected . Since then, Daniel Schenker has continued to work as the “link” between Zurich and Cologne. The Big Band gave the first concert under Schorn in September 2014 on the occasion of the opening of the new music club “Mehrspur” on the Toni area of the ZHdK. This was followed by an appearance at the Zurich Film Festival and one at the jazznojazz festival with drummer Jojo Mayer. Bill Holman in “Miller's Studio”, Lars Andreas Haug and Marcio Bahia in Zurich were also guests . The appearance at the Zurich Film Festival could be repeated in the following season.
In the 2015/2016 season, the Zurich Jazz Orchestra traveled to the WDR 3 -Jazzfest in Münster (Westphalia) and hosted Thomas Gansch and Joe Haider . In addition to the resumed theater program Miles or the pendulum clock from Montreux , a new program was launched for Frank Sinatra's 100th birthday : My life with Frank Sinatra in the Rigiblick Theater (director: Daniel Rohr) described the singer's private life in addition to the pieces of music ( at the microphone Sandra Studer, Raphael Jost, Pino Gasparini, Levin Deger) in the form of an interview (Max Merker) with his chauffeur and butler (Nino Sandow).
Discography
- Beyond Swiss Tradition (2005)
- New Plans (2008)
- Song (2012)
- Three Pictures (2018)