AARHUS JAZZ FESTIVAL
July 13 - 20 2024
Aarhus Jazz Orchestra – Celebrating Thad Jones feat. Dennis Mackrel (DK/US) - Photo: Aarhus Jazz Orchestra - Musikhuset Swinger

Photo: Aarhus Jazz Orchestra - Musikhuset Swinger

Aarhus Jazz Orchestra – Celebrating Thad Jones feat. Dennis Mackrel (DK/US)

19:30

Dennis Mackrel (cond), Kati Brien and Johan Toftegaard (a-sax), Michael Bladt and Cesar Joaniquet (t-sax), Michael Olesen (bar-sax), Stefan Ringive, Tobias Stavngaard, Niels Nørgaard and Henrik Resen (trb), Jan Lynggaard Sørensen, Lars Søberg and Jakob Sørensen (trp), Mads Bærentzen (p), Frederik Sakham (b), John Riddell (drm)

A Tribute to Jazz Luminary Thad Jones

Musikhuset Swings presents four breathtaking tribute concerts in honor of the 100th birthday of Thad Jones. American conductor and drummer Dennis Mackrel, who for a large part of his career has had Thad Jones' music and style very close to his life – and his drumsticks – will lead the band.

Jazz luminary Thad Jones landed in Copenhagen in 1977 – the same year that Klüver's Big Band, later Aarhus Jazz Orchestra, was founded. He took up the post of chief conductor of DR Big Band, and contributed significantly to the development of Danish jazz in the years that followed. He brought with him a wealth of iconic jazz collaborations, the most famous of which is probably The Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Orchestra, better known today as The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. 

Thad Jones' impact on American and Danish jazz in particular has been monumental, which is why Aarhus Jazz Orchestra is celebrating his 100th birthday with four thunderous concert evenings during Musikhuset Swinger.

The conductor is none other than Dennis Mackrel, for whom Thad Jones' music has had a major impact on his career, both behind the drum kit and with the baton. Dennis Mackrel has played in some of the most prominent jazz orchestras in history, including Count Basie's Big Band and, of course, The Thad Jones / The Mel Lewis Orchestra. Dennis Mackrel frequently collaborated with  Aarhus Jazz Orchestra back when the orchestra was called Klüver's Big Band and was led by Aarhus jazz icon Jens Klüver.

Aarhus Jazz Orchestra is one of Denmark's leading professional big bands and consists of some of the country's best jazz musicians. Over the years, the band has worked with some of the greatest jazz icons of our time, including Kurt Elling, Eliane Elias, John Scofield, Randy Brecker, Peter Erskine, Jamie Cullum, and David Sanborn.

The band has received great reviews for concerts and releases and has been nominated several times at the Danish Music Awards Jazz. In 2016, it won the categories Danish Jazz Release of the Year and Danish Jazz Composer of the Year, and in 2019 the band won the JazzDanmark Award, which celebrates the year's innovative concert experiences. In 2022, orchestra manager Anders Ørbæk won the P8 Jazz Award – Firebrand of the Year.

Since 1990, Aarhus Jazz Orchestra has delivered yearly swinging big band concerts during Aarhus Jazz Festival under the title Ridehuset Swings, which has now moved to Musikhuset Aarhus with the new title Musikhuset Swings.

 

About Musikhuset Swings 

Aarhus Jazz Orchestra and Musikhuset Aarhus once again have the pleasure of inviting you to Musikhuset Swings during Aarhus Jazz Festival. If you have visited Ridehuset Swings in the past, you already know to look forward to enjoying community, culinary delights, and great musical experiences – with free admission to most concerts. 

Aarhus Jazz Orchestra and Musikhuset Aarhus look forward to welcoming you to Musikhuset Swings, which takes place July 8-15 in the foyer and halls of Musikhuset and at KISSA in Musikhusparken. 

 


Read more about Aarhus Jazz Orchestra – Celebrating Thad Jones feat. Dennis Mackrel


Read more about Aarhus Jazz Orchestra – Celebrating Thad Jones feat. Dennis Mackrel


Read more about Aarhus Jazz Orchestra – Celebrating Thad Jones feat. Dennis Mackrel


Organizer
Aarhus Jazz Orchestra
30 24 06 62
Co-Organizer
Musikhuset Aarhus
Info/Ticket

Cover charge FREE

Aarhus Jazz Festival

Godsbanen, Skovgaardsgade 3

DK-8000 Aarhus C