Sonneberg International Jazz Days

International Sonneberger Jazz Days is the name for a festival of jazz and gospel music, which takes place every year since 1986 in November in Sonneberg. The organizer of this music event, the club is " Sonneberger Jazz eV ". The festival was lifted from the baptism on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the Sonneberg "Jazz optimists " on 29 November 1986.

History of Sonneberg "Jazz optimists "

The mid-1960s found themselves in Sonneberg a few enthusiastic amateur musicians together, skiffle, Dixie and Swing began to practice. After a short time they wanted to appear in public. In the GDR, it was very difficult to get the gig permission for a jazz band. These had to be brought under one roof only " jazz " and the " Socialist Heritage ". Therefore, the small band performed under the name "Swing optimists " primarily at dance events as a formation of the established " Südthüringer dance orchestra " on. The band was getting better and more professional in their composition. In 1971, the ambitious jazz musicians of the band went under the care of the Sonneberg Spielwarenensembes. As a group, within this government-sponsored, supported by the state-owned toy industry cultural groups they established themselves as " Dixieland swing band" new and gave the name "Jazz optimists ".

The sun Berger "Jazz optimists " developed in the jazz scene of the GDR an excellent reputation. For jazz singers like Pascal Wroblewsky and Marianne Baer, the band became the springboard. Great performances followed at the Dresden Dixieland Festival and on television. For the 15th anniversary of the "Jazz optimists " enabled the "VEB Sonni " as a donor an opulent "Jazz Night" with notable guests in Sonneberg. Due to the success of this anniversary event, which took place on 29 November 1986 it was decided to repeat every year in November, the " sun Berger Jazz night " with several formations. Since then, the history of the " Jazz optimists " inextricably linked to the "International Sonneberger Jazz Festival ".

History of the "International Sonneberger Jazz Days "

The success story of "Jazz optimists " stopped after the 15th birthday. The annual height of their performances came from 1987, the " sun Berger Jazz Night" added, in which they themselves could celebrate together with well-known guest bands and performers Jazz on home soil. Because one night is so short and foreign musicians played, in 1987 it was the "Jazz Orchestra Day " from Poland, were out one night very soon, " International Sonneberger Jazz Days ". As organizers and musicians "Jazz optimists " were up to now always with you. Over time, the festival also other styles such as the Gospel opened. With the disintegration of the GDR was the "Jazz optimists " 1990 lost her longtime donors. With support from the city Sonnenberg and much initiative succeeded in "Jazz optimists " under her alcohol - rector, Peter Wicklein themselves and the festival alive. With Mighty Flea Connors and his band and Queen Yahna succeeded in 1991 to bring the first time artists from the U.S. to Sonnenberg. In the following years were still very good jazz musicians, and now also very popular as Bill Ramsey, the Dutch Swing College Band or from the UK Rod Mason, Chris Barber, Terry Lightfoot and Kenny Ball with their bands. Thuringian- Franconian club established to promote and maintain the jazz and cabaret: In order to secure the future of jazz optimists and the Sonneberg festival for the region, in 1992 the club Sonneberger jazz fans eV was headed Peter Wickleins.

Since then has become a Thuringian- Franconian cooperation from the festival an international event and from the Jazz optimists. With the taste for beautiful harmonies still shapes the Coburg pianist Herrmann Schunk the band's style and that is: More Swing and Dixieland less. But no matter what style: Jazz and Jazz Days Sonnenberg are more alive than ever before.