Aarhus Jazz Orchestra

Aarhus Jazz Orchestra is one of the leading big bands in Europe. With a sublime sense of music as well as a highly professional approach to practising big band music, Aarhus Jazz Orchestra continues to attract, impress and overwhelm audiences as well as music critics with great musical experiences. Aarhus Jazz Orchestra was founded in 1977 by Jens Klüver (then: Klüvers Big Band) and has since played a monumental role in the distribution and the development of Danish jazz. Aarhus Jazz Orchestra is funded by the Danish Arts Foundation and The Municipality of Aarhus.

With a special focus on jazz and contemporary rhythmic music, Aarhus Jazz Orchestra plays more than 80 concerts every year, and with everything from school concerts to high-profile artistic development projects, the orchestra caters to a diverse audience of all ages. Aarhus Jazz Orchestra consists of some of the best musicians from the Danish jazz scene, and over the years the orchestra has worked with some of the greatest jazz icons of our time, including Kurt Elling, Randy Brecker, Marilyn Mazur, John Scofield, Eliane Elias, Peter Erskine, Jamie Cullum, David Sanborn, Melody Gardot, Dafnis Prieto, Geir Lysne, David Liebman, Mark Johnson, and many others. The orchestra reaps great reviews for its concerts and releases and has been nominated several times at the Danish Music Awards Jazz. In 2016, the orchestra won in the categories ‘Danish Jazz Release of the Year’ and ‘Danish Jazz Composer of the Year’ for Jakob Buchanan’s work Buchanan Requiem. The big band also won ‘Danish Jazz Composer of the Year’ in 2023 for Karmen Rõivassepp’s album Ambivalence.

Working with Aarhus Jazz Orchestra means working alongside highly dedicated musicians and a highly dedicated team. With both world-class composers, conductors, and musicians, extraordinary musical experiences are guaranteed. The administrative team behind the orchestra maintains a passionate and professional management style concerning the many factors surrounding the music. If you wish to contact Aarhus Jazz Orchestra, you can find our contact information below.

Click here to read about some of Aarhus Jazz Orchestra’s highlighted projects.

CONTACT

Aarhus Jazz Orchestra
Vester Allé 15
8000 Aarhus C
DK

info@ajazz.dk

THE BAND

Saxophone

Kati Brien – Lead Alto
Johan Toftegaard - Alto
Michael Bladt – Tenor
Cesar Joaniquet – Tenor
Michael Olsen – Barytone 

Trombone

Stefan Ringive – Lead
Tobias Stavngaard
Niels Nørgaard
Henrik Resen 

Trumpet

Felix Meyer – Lead
NN
Lars Søberg
Jakob Sørensen

 Rhythm Section 

NN - Guitar
Mads Bærentzen – Piano
Frederik Sakham – Bass
John Riddell – Drums