Berlin Jazz Orchestra

The Berlin Jazz Orchestra is a 17 piece concert jazz orchestra based in Berlin, Germany. The orchestra has been critically acclaimed by prominent periodicals such as the Berliner Tagesspiegel, Märkische Allgemeine, Jazzpodium, and Jazzthetik.[1]

Berlin Jazz Orchestra
Background information
OriginBerlin, Germany
GenresJazz, big band
Years active2000–present
LabelsPolydor/Universal, Schoener Hören
Associated actsMarc Secara, Jiggs Whigham, Ack van Rooyen, Jonas Schoen, Patti Austin, Herb Geller, Ladi Geisler, New York Voices, Manfred Krug, Judy Niemack, Peter Kraus, Joja Wendt, Marc Marshall, Jeanfrançois Prins, Jocelyn B. Smith, Uschi Brüning, Pe Werner. Steve Gray, Jack Cooper
Websitewww.berlinjazzorchestra.de

The group was founded by singer Marc Secara and jazz trombonist Jiggs Whigham in 2000. The group was formed in part as a reaction to the financial problems and elimination of the RIAS Big Band. The ensemble had their first demo release with the label 44 Records in 2004.[2] The Update CD release paved the way for their first international CD release of 2007: You're Everything on Schoener Hören Records/Kulturradio featuring Marc Secara and the big band/string arrangements of Steve Gray.[3][4] They also released the Strangers in the Night (music of Bert Kaempfert) DVD with Polydor/Universal Music in 2012 which features soloists Ack van Rooyen, Herb Geller, Ladi Geisler and Jiggs Whigham.[5] In 2014 Secara hired arranger and conductor Jack Cooper to collaborate on the new Songs of Berlin BJO project and CD recording.[6] Initial premieres of this music were part of the 15th Anniversary of the group being celebrated during 2015/2016.[7][8]

The BJO features studio musicians in the Berlin and Northern Germany region and has performed numerous concerts to include artistic collaborations with the New York Voices, Patti Austin, Manfred Krug, Joja Wendt, Jocelyn B. Smith, Uschi Brüning and Pe Werner.[9] Recent performances have been at the Frankfurt Jazz Festival, the Sonneberg Jazzfest, Nordhaus Jazzfestival and the Jazzfest Köpenick.[9] The group is also featured on the soundtrack for the 2009 Warner Bros. movie release Mord ist mein Geschäft, Liebling.[10] Further premieres of "Songs of Berlin" project were at the Kunstfabrik Schlot in Berlin (March 9) and three-day music festival "Werder klingt" celebrating the 700th anniversary of the city of Werder (Havel) on March 10, 2017 featuring Uschi Brüning.[11][12] The group also performed in Reinsberg as the warm up performance for the recording of two CDs to be produced for 2019.[13] The second of the two CDs (beyond "Songs of Berlin") is "Extended Works" composed and arranged by Jonas Schoen.

Members
  • Marc Secara, Jiggs Whigham, co-leaders
  • Jonas Schoen, lead alto saxophone
  • Nico Lohmann, alto saxophone
  • Patrick Braun, tenor saxophone
  • Thomas Walter, tenor saxophone
  • Nik Leistle, baritone saxophone
  • Benny Brown/Skip Reinhardt, lead trumpet
  • Martin Gerwig, trumpet
  • Jürgen Hahn, trumpet
  • Nikolaus Neuser, trumpet
  • Christoph Hermann, trombone
  • Simon Harrer, trombone
  • Jan Yaren, trombone
  • Arne Fischer, bass trombone
  • Jeanfrançois Prins, guitar
  • Claus-Dieter Bandorf, piano
  • Ralph Graessler, bass
  • Tobias Backhaus, drums

Past Members
  • Daniel Collette, trumpet[14]

Discography

See also

References
  1. The Berlin Jazz Orchestra, Press page
  2. "Update" CD with 44 Records, 2004 Sound carrier of Berlin Jazz Orchestra in the German National Library catalogue
  3. All Music Guide CD, "You're Everything" Marc Secara and his Berlin Jazz Orchestra, 2008
  4. Discogs, "You're Everything" Marc Secara and his Berlin Jazz Orchestra, 2008, Schoener Hören Music
  5. DVD, 'Strangers In Night' The Music Of Bert Kaempfert: The Berlin Jazz Orchestra & Special Guests, Polydor/Universal, 2012
  6. "In dieser Stadt" Marc Secara, Jiggs Whigham and the Berlin Jazz Orchestra, arr. Jack Cooper. May 16, 2016, Die Wühlmäuse - Das Berliner Kabarett-Theater. Songs of Berlin project
  7. first performance of the Songs of Berlin music was on January 27, 2016 at Kunstfabrik Schlot in Berlin, Germany
  8. second performance of the Songs of Berlin music was on May 16, 2016 at THEATER DER WÜHLMÄUSE in Berlin, Germany
  9. The Berlin Jazz Orchestra, tour page
  10. Marc Secara and the Berlin jazz Orchestra of the soundtrack of "Killing is My Business, Honey"
  11. January 27, 2016 at Kunstfabrik Schlot in Berlin, Germany
  12. March 10, 2017 The Berlin jazz Orchestra at the "Cultural Palace of Scala"
  13. Berlin Jazz Orchester ind Marc Secara in Rheinsberg, Märkische Allgemeine - Ihre Zeitung aus Brandenburg, 10:24 18.11.2018
  14. Collette, Daniel. Deceased 23 May 2019, Berlin Germany
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