Artistic Director
Wolfgang Diefenbach -
Conductor, Bandleader and Arranger
During his long and successful musical career, Wolfgang Diefenbach has collaborated with well-known orchestras, international soloists and major jazz composers and arrangers, such as Bill Holmann, Manny Albam, John Clayton, Bob Mintzer, Jerry van Rooyen, Bill Dobbins, Ray Brown, Bob Florence and Steve Gray, just to name a few.
For more than two decades, talented upcoming young musicians and selected winners of the "Youths Play Jazz Contest" have been given the opportunity of constant professional development under Wolfgang Diefenbach's professional direction, performing as members of the Hessian State Youth Jazz Orchestra (LJJO). His successful teaching concept combines regular workshop sessions with well-known instructors, concerts and stage appearances at jazz festivals with famous soloists and international tours.
Top-class recordings and numerous TV and radio productions document Wolfgang Diefenbach's diversity, his high standards and his selection of musical partners. He succeeded in winning star saxophone player and composer Bob Mintzer to write Pots & Pans exclusively for the LJJO - a title that the orchestra has by now played all over the world. Pots & Pans can not only be found on the first CD Kicks and Sticks
, with which Wolfgang Diefenbach and the LJJO won the German Record Critics' Award, it is also on the most latest CD Happy Birthday
, featuring Bob Mintzer himself as soloist.
In addition to his intensive commitment to young jazz musicians, the experienced bandleader and arranger is also dedicated to directing jazz vocal ensembles, and most of all to his large-scale crossover concert projects, which he has performed in major concert halls in all continents and in nearly all European countries. With Crossover Xmas, he presented a broadly diversified crossover programme of high-class music with a 200-member choir and international guest stars, including of course the Hessian LJJO!
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