HfM Jazz Orchestra

The HfM Jazz Orchestra is the large-scale showpiece project of the jazz course. From big band tradition to modern jazz orchestra - under the direction of Jörn Marcussen-Wulff, the ensemble enables students to develop their playing skills and stylistic confidence. In addition to intensive orchestral rehearsals, regular section rehearsals and sight-reading are an integral part of the ensemble's work.

The HfM Jazz Orchestra also offers students the opportunity to rehearse and work on their own arrangements or compositions. Public concerts and workshops with renowned guest artists take place regularly.

Arrangements from Porto: Semester concert of the University of Music Jazz Orchestra featuring Paulo Perfeito

The University of Music Jazz Orchestra has often invited accomplished jazz musicians and big band composers as guests. The students benefit enormously from the external expertise during the intensive rehearsal phase and at the final concert.

This winter semester, the award-winning Portuguese trombonist, arranger, composer and conductor Paulo Perfeito is a guest at the University Centre am Horn of the Weimar Music university as part of the Erasmus programme.

After four days of rehearsals in the jazz ensemble room, the Weimar audience can look forward to another top-class concert by the University of Music Jazz Orchestra on Thursday, 30 January at 7:30 pm in the Festsaal Fürstenhaus. The concert will be conducted by Paulo Perfeito and the jazz orchestra director Jörn Marcussen-Wulff. Admission to the concert is free!

‘Paulo Perfeito is not only one of the most accomplished Portuguese composers for jazz orchestra, but also an experienced orchestra leader who, with his warm and positive nature, manages to make every orchestra member an important part of the musical process,’ says Jörn Marcussen-Wulff.

‘I am also honoured to call this outstanding musician my good friend, with whom I myself was privileged to play for many years in the trombone section of the European Movement Jazz Orchestra.’

Paulo Perfeito will bring a cross-section of his musical work as a composer and arranger to Weimar, from arrangements of well-known jazz and soul standards to rousing original compositions.

‘Since he himself studied in Boston as a student of the world-famous Bob Brookmeyer, I am very pleased that he will also work with our students on selected works by his former teacher,’ adds Marcussen Wulff.

Paulo Perfeito is considered one of the most accomplished arrangers and composers in his country and is a professor at the Escola Superior de Musica e Artes do Espectáculo do Porto, where he also serves as vice president.

[17 January 2025]

2024

Body and Soul: HfM Jazz Orchestra plays music by Peter Herbolzheimer under the direction of Erik van Liers

The "HfM Jazz Orchestra" of the University of Music FRANZ LISZT Weimar presents a dynamic concert of the music of Peter Herbolzheimer, one of the most important big band leaders of the 20th century in Europe. On Thursday, 18 January 2024 at 19:30 in the Festsaal Fürstenhaus, the jazz orchestra, conducted by Dutch jazz trombonist Erik van Lier and Jörn Marcussen-Wulff, will get your feet tapping.

The vocal ensemble "Die Katze im Sack", rehearsed by Prof Juan M.V. Garcia, will also perform for part of the evening. Admission is free.

Peter Herbolzheimer was the founder and long-time director of the Bundesjazzorchester (Bujazzo). Not least because of this commitment, he has had a decisive influence on the German jazz scene. As a trombonist, arranger and composer, he worked for renowned jazz musicians and ensembles.

Several original compositions by the jazz great, who died in 2010, will be performed, including "Filibuster" and "Just like that". But his arrangements of classics such as "La Fiesta", "Heartland", "Body & Soul" and "Night in Tunesia" will also take centre stage. Jörn Marcussen-Wulff, director of the "HfM Jazz Orchestra", himself played under the musician in the Bujazzo.

Erik van Lier, who has played in numerous big bands in the Netherlands and Germany and learnt from leading bass trombonists in the USA, will be conducting the concert. He himself was a member of the band "Peter Herbolzheimer Rhythm Combination & Brass".

"As a long-time companion of Peter Herbolzheimer, there is hardly anyone who knows this music better than him," reports Jörn Marcussen-Wulff, who himself was taught by Erik van Lier: "Even back then, I was impressed by Erik's way of working out music and rehearsing efficiently. I am delighted that our students have the chance to experience him and learn from him."

The "HfM Jazz Orchestra" was founded in 1996 and has since developed into one of the best orchestras in the region. The orchestra regularly works with major players on the jazz scene, composers and arrangers as well as guest conductors and guest soloists.

Stylistically, the ensemble is primarily active in the contemporary music scene between jazz and new trends. In addition, the musicians are constantly exploring the repertoire of legendary big bands such as Count Basie, Duke Ellington and Thad Jones as well as the music of composers such as Bob Mintzer and Bob Brookmeyer.

The vocal ensemble "Die Katze im Sack" is mainly made up of school music students. The 12 singers sing individually miked pop/jazz choral pieces. The arrangements, developed at the highest level, are written by the students themselves. The vocal ensemble is directed by Prof Juan M.V. Garcia.

[19 December 2023]

2023

History of Distance: HfM Jazz Orchestra meets Performance

With the suite "History of Distance", the HfM Jazz Orchestra and the students of the Elementary Music Pedagogy (EMP) and Rhythmics program explore the exciting connection between music, improvisation and movement. The concert on Sunday, 2 July 2023 at 7:00 p.m. in the Festsaal Fürstenhaus marks the conclusion of the joint, interdisciplinary summer work phase of the Jazz and EMP/Rhythmics programs. Admission is free!

The interdisciplinary evening will be conducted by Meike Britt Hübner, professor of music and movement education/rhythmics, and Jörn Marcussen-Wulff on the podium of the HfM Jazz Orchestra. The latter composed "History of Distance" as a suite for jazz orchestra and performance in 2014.

Originally written for his own big band "Fette Hupe", Jörn Marcussen-Wulff's suite deals with the concept of distance in various forms. The five parts of the suite are titled "Pride and Fear," "History of Distance," "Turtle Race," "Post-Puberty" and "LAX."

"Physical and mental or spatial and temporal distance are illuminated," the composer explains. "The music is written just as differently as the thoughts on the subject, in order to give as much room as possible for improvisation and impulses, as well as to explore different dependencies of music and movement," says Jörn Marcussen Wulff.

Since its founding in October 1996, the Jazz Orchestra of the University of Music FRANZ LISZT Weimar has developed into an outstanding orchestra in the region. On the one hand, the ensemble focuses on the repertoire of the legendary big bands of Count Basie, Duke Ellington and Thad Jones, as well as the literature of composers such as Bob Mintzer, Peter Herbolzheimer and Bob Brookmeyer.

On the other hand, there are regular work phases with composers, arrangers, guest conductors or guest soloists, which are stylistically oriented mostly to contemporary musical events between jazz and new trends.

[13 June 2023]

Featuring Nils Wogram: HfM Jazz Orchestra plays with award-winning trombonist

The Jazz Orchestra of the Hochschule für Musik FRANZ LISZT Weimar welcomes the new year with a special guest. At the final concert of the winter work phase of the "HfM Jazz Orchestra" on Sunday, January 8, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. in the Festsaal Fürstenhaus, the composer and trombonist Nils Wogram will be our guest.

Under the direction of Jörn Marcussen-Wulff, the world-renowned trombone virtuoso and multiple award-winning musician will present his compositions for large ensemble, originally written for the NDR Bigband.

Nils Wogram is considered one of the most versatile and exciting musicians on the European jazz scene and has been awarded prizes such as the Jazz Echo, the German Jazz Prize and the Swiss Music Prize. He performs with his own bands, as a soloist and in various international band projects at the most important jazz festivals and tours worldwide.

Wogram is best known for his highly virtuosic trombone playing, his original compositions, and also as the leader of long-standing collaborative bands (Root 70, Nostalgia Trio, Muse, and others) that play exclusively his compositions. In 2010 he founded his own record label nwog-records, where he releases his albums.

Since its founding in 1996, the Jazz Orchestra of the Weimar University of Music has developed into an outstanding orchestra in the region. On the one hand, the ensemble focuses on the repertoire of the legendary big bands of Count Basie, Duke Ellington and Thad Jones, as well as the literature of composers such as Bob Mintzer, Peter Herbolzheimer and Bob Brookmeyer.

On the other hand, there are regular work phases with composers, arrangers, guest conductors or guest soloists, which are mostly stylistically oriented towards contemporary musical events between jazz and new trends.

Tickets for 8 euros, reduced 5 euros, are available at the Tourist Information Weimar and at the box office.

More information about Nils Wogram: www.nilswogram.com

[16 December 2022]