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Würzburg Jazz Orchestra

The Würzburg Jazz Orchestra (WJO) was founded in 2005 in Würzburg (Germany) by Markus Geiselhart. Since then the founder and leader has moved to Vienna and, there, works most actively and successfully as a musician, composer and band leader. The WJO is one of the few existing freelance jazz-orchestras in germany. The band-members are not only from the town Wuerzburg itself but also from the entire German and Austrian territory. The WJO has set itself a goal to include in concerts the rarely performed big band literature and compositions of both young European composers and of its band members. Hereby the Kenny Clark – Francy Bolang Big Band and the Vienna Art Orchestra serve as an example for the WJO. Already in 2005, the WJO’s foundation, the orchestra attained a high level of notable achievements and success both at National and International level. The WJO kicked off on Easter Sunday in 2005 and was the first European band ever to perform in the theatre Würzburg (Grosses Haus des Würzburger Mainfranken Theater) a programme with compositions entirely by Don Ellis. During the concert, which carried the title Tribute to Don Ellis, the achievements of the trumpet player (deceased 1978) were acknowledged. The trumpet player Thomas Gansch, former member of the Vienna Art Orchestra and foundation-member of Mnozil Brass, was the guest soloist on this evening. In summer 2005 the WJO impressed its audience once more during Open Air concerts in Mainbernheim and Würzburg. During the 2005 Würzburg jazz festival, the WJO performed the suite Continental Call (for solo guitar / comp. by Ed Partyka) being only the second band ever to do so in full length. From January 2006 to Mai 2009 the WJO has performed in the Würzburger Bockshorn on a regular basis; and since November 2006 with its own concert programme named Würzburg Big Band Lounge. The first WJO CD Artistry in Rhythm – The Music of Stan Kenton – feat. Ed Partyka had been recorded live in May 2006 at one of the concerts in the Würzburger Bockshorn. During the jazz festival in Würzburg in 2006 the suite the other side of MozART, which is written for jazz-orchestra and composed by big band leader Markus Geiselhart himself, was recorded by the renowned Bavarian broadcasting company Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR). The suite was an official contribution to the year of Mozart in 2006. The WJO embodies power, professionalism and young energy on a highly recognized level. The WJO works in the last 5 years with: Mathias Rüegg, Thomas Gansch, Jon Sass, Herbert Joos, Ingolf Burkhardt, Robert Riegler, Ed Partyka, Peter Fulda, Peter Tuscher and many others.

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Album Review

Würzburg Jazz Orchestra: Artistry in Rhythm: The Music of Stan Kenton

Read "Artistry in Rhythm: The Music of Stan Kenton" reviewed by Jack Bowers


The Würzburg Jazz Orchestra, formed only two years ago by trombonist Markus Geiselhart, hit the ground running with a tribute to the late trumpeter Don Ellis and within a year had recorded its first album, Artistry in Rhythm, dedicated to the music of the Stan Kenton Orchestra. It's an ambitious start, and by most standards a good one as well. While it is clear from the opening measure that this isn't Stan Kenton, it is nonetheless a ...

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