"For friends of good big band music, the cooperation of the JOC with Jim McNeely is a must!"
- Jazz'n More
Jim McNeely is one of the most progressive composers within contemporary big band jazz. He wrote nine brand new compositions for the JOC, which together form the album Threnody (2022). McNeely created the pieces on the basis of 'musical bio's' of the JOC musicians, in which drummer and curator Martijn Vink highlighted the talents and interests of all the individual band members. Threnody is an album that relates to society and its issues, and encompasses the entire range of human emotions. Martijn Vink leads the orchestra from behind his drums.
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About Jim McNeely
Jim McNeely, known from working with the Stan Getz Quartet, Phil Woods Quintet and the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, works as a conductor for numerous international big bands and received 10 Grammy nominations between 1997 and 2019, while winning one. He is one of the last people to work from the philosophy of the New York tradition of the Thad Jones - Mel Lewis Orchestra, involving the idea that the musicians themselves are the starting point and the emphasis is on progression, challenge and musical development.
About Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw
The Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw belongs to the absolute top big bands in Europe. It presents a strong vision on and respect for music in all its forms, played by a world-class rhythm section and brass sections. The JOC bears the name of the Royal Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the only concert hall in the world that, in addition to a classical orchestra, also has a jazz orchestra attached to its name.
The JOC has worked with a wide variety of international guest soloists, from Roy Hargrove to Chick Corea, Branford Marsalis to Oleta Adams, Jose James to Jazzmeia Horn.
Having toured all over the world at all the large festivals and in the most beautiful jazz clubs - from Birdland New York to North Sea Jazz Capetown, from Tokyo to Moscow and from Rio to Budapest - the JOC is also highly respected internationally.
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