Theo Jörgensmann

Theodor Franz Jörgensmann ( born September 29, 1948 in Bottrop ) is a German clarinetist, jazz musician, composer and a protagonist of the Modern Creative style. Theo Jörgensmann belongs to the second generation of European improvisation musicians. He was involved in the renaissance of jazz clarinet in the 1980s and is considered one of the outstanding soloist on this instrument.

Life

Theo Jorgen 's father was a restaurateur of a typical Ruhr pub. In this environment he grew up as the eldest son with two brothers and a sister. Before he completely and without academic musical training - Jörgensmann is self-taught - turning the clarinet, he worked as a laboratory assistant. It was not until the age of 18 he started playing the clarinet. In the period 1969-1972 he took private clarinet lessons with an instructor at the Folkwang Hochschule in Essen. The diploma made ​​Jörgensmann, who had left with the 15 junior high school, early 70s. After his military service in Münster (1973 ), he worked with disabled children and started a social work degree, but which he did not graduate. About 1975 Jörgensmann became a professional musician.

Since 1997 Theo Jörgensmann lives in Brüel, Mecklenburg- Vorpommern.

Work

The 1970s

1970 and 1971 visited Jörgensmann the jazz summer courses at the Academy Remscheid. One of the first groups nationwide joined with the Jörgensmann early 1970s in appearance, was the contact Trio from 1970 to 1973 with Alois Kott (double bass ) and Michael Jüllich (drums). With this group he played in 1972 as Newcomber at the German Jazz Festival Frankfurt.

The trio followed from 1974 to 1975, the jazz-rock formation Out, in which he played clarinet electrically alienated. At the same time he played in the group Clarinet Contrast, a clarinet pool.

From 1976, he then organized his first quartet, which you can assign the "Free Bop ". This existing group until 1982, belonged to the 1978 Uli P. Lask, Kai Kanthak and Dionys Kube, Jörgensmann occurred when German representatives of the European Broadcasting Union in 1977 in Hilversum.

The 1980s

For about ten years, in the period 1982-1992, designed and moderated Jörgensmann under the editorial direction of Manfred Niehaus jazz broadcasts for the WDR. Together with Rolf -Dieter Weyer he wrote at this time a little ethics of improvisation.

Again and again cooperates Jörgensmann interdisciplinary with poets, actors, visual artists and filmmakers. Examples of this work are the experimental opera The conquest of beauty with ao Reinald Fast ( filmmaker, actor ), Robert Bosshard ( filmmaker, writer ), Peter Thoms ( drummer, artist) and Anna Fechter (actress ), the WDR - TV 1995 produced.

At times, he also worked as a theater musician, so he represented at the Theatre of the Freie Volksbühne Berlin in November 1984 the klezmer clarinetist Giora Feidman at 23 performances of the play Ghetto by Joshua Sobol.

1988 Jörgensmann was organized together with Eckard Kolter man co-founder of the New Music Organisation (NOM ) in food, the concert series and festivals, and also produced recordings.

From 1981 to 1996 he was in the band European interface of the New York pianist and painter John Fischer, and from 1985 to 1998 in the Contraband trombonist Willem van Manen. In the 1980s, he also played in Franz Koglmann Pipetet, Andrea Centazzos in Central Europe Orchestra and in various formations to Michael Sell.

In 1983, pianist George Gräwe with Jörgensmann and Eckard Koltermann the large-sized pit orchestra sound, and together with the bass clarinetist Eckard Kolter man made Jörgensmann the German Clarinet Duo ( 1984-1998 ).

The 1990s

In the 1990s Jörgensmann also gave duo concerts with the Swiss pianist and composer Daniel Ott. With his companions from the Dutch Contraband - Jeroen van Vliet, Eric van der West and Kolter man - worked Jörgensmann together since 1993 as IIQ Quartet ( Impressionistic Improvisers Quartet ).

From 1992 to 1995 he headed the showcase ensemble in which the violinist Albrecht Maurer, cellist Donja Eghbal, the bass clarinet Rainald Schückens and drummer Achim Kramer participated. From the mid- 1990s Jörgensmann had together with the Lithuanian saxophonist Petra Vysniauskas a quintet, the Andreas Willers, Kent Carter and Klaus Kugel belonged.

The end of 1996 Jörgensmann formed a new band with bassist Christian Ramond, drummer Klaus Kugel and Christopher Dell on vibraphone. The trio Theo Jörgensmann Quartet toured three times through Canada and the U.S. and played the first German band twice on the largest jazz festival in the world, the Montreal International Jazz Festival.

The 2000s

Since 2003 Jörgensmann plays in a trio Oles Jörgensmann Oles with the young Polish twins Marcin (bass) and Bartlomiej Oles (drums). At the invitation of the Polish Cultural Institute, the trio gave in 2004 during the Orange Revolution in Ukraine concerts. The band also performed in Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, France, Portugal, Hungary, Belgium, Sweden, Finland, Serbia and Slovenia. Their second CD Directions chose the Polish internet jazz magazine Diapazon to The Best Album of The Year 2005. Partially expanded the trio with violinist Albrecht Maurer or as Theo Jörgensmann Second Quartet by vibraphonist Christopher Dell. Another project of Jörgensmann is the Deep Down Clarinet Duo with the double bass clarinetist Ernst Ulrich Deuker. Together with the French clarinetist Etienne Rolin form since 2009, the Tribal Clarinet Trio.

2010s until today

In 2010 Jörgensmann founded the Freedom Trio with Hagen Stüdemann and Christian Ramond. He also performs with The Vanguard with Hagen Stüdemann, Lillinger Christian and Christopher Dell.

Aspects of his music

Jorgen 's music is determined by the influences of different music areas. Influenced by the possibilities of the inside-outside improvisation, he combines elements of jazz, new music, classical music and folklore in his he developed over decades improvisation style. Change in his musical passages narrating character with those who are very focused on the sound. The pace and direction of the melody lines subject to this rapid, spontaneous changes, so that an ever-changing sound pattern.

Discography (selection)

• Theo Jörgensmann Quartet: in time ( Guest: Perry Robinson) (1976 )
• Theo Jörgensmann Laterna Magica Solo ( 1983)
• Hans -Günther Wauer / Theo Jörgensmann: " Introit " (1990)
• Hans -Günther Wauer / Theo Jörgensmann / Günter " Baby" Sommer; Merseburger encounter (1994 )
• Herbert Somplatzki: Word Music with Eckard Kolter Man (1995 )
• Theo Jörgensmann Quartet: eko mo ta (1997)
• Theo Jörgensmann / Eckard Kolter man: Pagine Gialle (1995 ) / ( 2001)
• Theo Jörgensmann Quartet: Snijbloemen (2000)
• Theo Jörgensmann: Fellowship with Petras Vysniauskas, Charlie Mariano, Karl Berger, Kent Carter and Klaus Kugel (1998 ) / ( 2005)
• Oles Jörgensmann Oles live in Poznan 2006 / (2007) with Marcin Oles and Bartlomiej Oles
• Trio Hot Jink with Albrecht Maurer and Peter Jacquemyn (2008)
• Theo Jörgensmann / Hagen Stüdemann Ourspace (2010)
• Theo Jörgensmann / Albrecht Maurer Duo Melencolia, ( Nemu, 2011)
• Bernd Köppen / Theo Jörgensmann Duo Father Rhine mother out - 8 dialogues dedicated to Manfred Niehaus, ( Senti 2013)
• Bucksch ( nexus Records, 2014)

Compositions (selection )

• Room in New York. Dance theater piece for two dancers, one actor, one speaker and two musicians on a text by Michael Klaus (1996). Choreography: Claudia Lichtblau, composition: Theo Jörgensmann / Karoly Binder.
• The conquest of the beautiful, experimental chamber opera for 3 writers, 1 painter, 1 actor and 1 musician. WDR Television Production ( 1995)
• Aesthetic direction. Chamber Music for clarinet, bass clarinet, violin, cello and percussion. UA ( 1993). CD nexus Records ( performer: Theo Jörgensmann showcase ensemble)
• The monologue. Soundtrack to the film of the same Reinald quick. WDR Television Production ( 1990)

Teaching and Awards

• From 1983 to 1993, a lecturer for clarinet and ensemble, Comprehensive University School Duisburg
• From 1993 to 1997 professor of music improvisation, Institute for Music Therapy, University of Witten -Herdecke
• 1991 Culture Prize of the city of Bottrop