The JM Jazz World Orchestra (JMJWO) is Jeunesses Musicales International’s premier international jazz ensemble, bringing together the world's best young jazz talents each year under the artistic leadership of the planet's coolest cats for a one-of-a-kind tour to knock your socks off!
The orchestra will meet at the beginning of July for a rehearsal session at the JMI World Meeting Centre in Groznjan (Croatia). From there an amazing tour is lined up from the 9th to the 14th of July across Croatia, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium the Netherlands and back to Groznjan. They will be playing at some of the top gigs on the continent including the
05Jul: Liburnia Jazz Festival (Lovran,HR)
09Jul: Jazz im Podium (Basel, CH)
10Jul: Jazz in der Aula / Musikzauber Franken (Lauda-Königshofen, DE)
11Jul: North Sea Jazz Festival (Rotterdam, NL)
12Jul: Brosella Festival (Brussels, BE)
14Jul: Jazz is Back Festival (Groznjan, HR)
The 2015 JMJWO will be under the artistic direction of none other than Luis Bonilla (USA). This Californian raised Costa Rican trombonist, composer and arranger, has taken in and mastered an incredible array of musical styles. His success as a sideman with such greats as McCoy Tyner, Dizzy Gillespie, Lester Bowie, Tom Harrell, Freddie Hubbard, Astrud Gilberto, Willie Colon and Toshiko Akiyoshi attests not only to the skill and variety of Bonilla’s talent, but also to a mind restlessly committed to exploring some of the most complex and demanding music of our time. He is a member of the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra under Arturo O’Farrill’s direction (both 2009 Grammy winners) and the group Dave Douglas & Brass Ecstasy. Besides a busy performance/masterclass schedule year-round, Bonilla is a faculty member of the Manhattan School of Music and New England Conservatory.
"I feel timing and opportunity have come together for a major impact in the Jazz industry. The fresh new sounds a Global Youth Jazz Orchestra can offer today will rival any new music project in today's market. We will be fresh!!"
L. Bonilla
This year’s big band consists of 19 phenomenal musicians representing 16 countries across 4 continents. All musicians are between the ages of 18 and 25 and are each rising stars in their own right. They were selected from over 100 applicants this April by an international jury looking for the highest musicianship possible.
The JMJW Orchestra represents a unique experience in terms of personal relationship building, intercultural learning and exchange. The orchestra was formed officially in 2012 and its previous artistic directors include Sigi Feigel (2012), Frank Vaganée (2013) and Erlend Skomsvoll (2014).
“I have seen JM Jazz World as an amazing opportunity to grow as a musician, to see how different people play and how to interpret music in a different way”
Siyasanga Charles, South Africa, JMJWO 2014.