Jazz Bigband Graz

JazzBigBandGraz, Bandfoto © Erich Reismann

INFOBOX

Genre(s): Jazz/Improvised Music
From: Styria, Austria
Booking: booking@horstmichaelschaffer.com
Contact: office@jazzbigbandgraz.com
Website: www.jazzbigbandgraz.com/
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BIOGRAPHY

Founded in 1998 by Sigi Feigl as a mainstream oriented orchestra, that among others others collaborated with the New York Voices, Jon Hendricks and Bob Mintzer, the JBBG – Jazz Bigband Graz was able to sharpen their profile and raise international attention in 2003. In this year, Heinrich von Kalnein and Horst-Michael Schaffer took over the leadership.

After a restart with the production “A Life Affair” (2003) they released „Joys & Desires“ (2005), composed by drummer, composer John Hollenbeck. 2008 Schaffer presented himself as a composer for the production “Electric Poetry & Lo-Fi Cookies” combining theremin sounds with influences of digital electronics and minimal music elements as well as integrating spoken-word interludes. 2011 Kalnein and Schaffer produced the album “Urban Folktales”, which was released on ACT Music and featured among others the singer Theo Bleckmann, guitarist Nguyên Lê and trombonist Gianluca Petrella as guest soloists. 2016 the two released „True Stories“ on Kalneins label Natango Music.

In 2019 Kalnein stepped back from leading the large ensemble. Together with Schaffer he started the small band „JBBG Smål – Gran Reserva“. Up to now they released the albums „Times of Change Vol.1″ (2020) and „Times of Change Vol.2“ (2021).

„One of the liviest of the new European jazz collectives.“ (Daily Telegraph)

„Another dimension!“ (JazzThing)