28-year-old Nils Wogram has been recognized internationally as the new master on his instrument. Based on classical training, he aims at playing the jazz trombone with the fluency and flexibility of a saxophone while developing an individual concept of composing and ensemble playing. A multi-prize winner, he was awarded the 1996 International Frank Rosolino Memorial Scholarship for Jazz Trombone (USA), a composition award from the 1997 Inter-national Julius Hemphill Competition (USA), the 1998 SWR Jazz Award and many more. Wogram was a classical soloist for Krahnenbaum Company, performed as a leader at the ENJA 25th Anniversary Festival in New York and recorded and toured with his own quartet as well as with other successful acts like Underkarl, Jazzkantine, the Jazz Baltica Ensemble, and the NDR Big Band. Wogram's quartet CDs received highest ratings (Rolling Stone: 4½ stars, Concerto: 4½ stars, Fono Forum: 4 stars). British Jazz Journal wrote: "If you've been wondering about the state of young, contemporary European jazz talent recently, look no further - and enjoy!"
The music of "Odd And Awkward" took its start when Wogram was commissioned by Triennale Cologne to present his artistic visions with four different bands in two days. While the octet was cleverly formed around his working quartet (Wogram, Nabatov, Sieverts, Rückert), the sextet (without piano and bass) is more like a brass band - with a warm and transparent sound, sometimes reminding of film scores and cool jazz coloring. Wogram the composer drew his inspirations from very different sources such as French composer Eugène Bozza, Brazilian bandleader Hermeto Pascoal, East European folk music and Raggamuffin grooves, but also from private anecdotes. Written with the individuals of the bands in mind (among them New Yorkers Chris Speed and Cuong Vu), this music's complex textures show Wogram's skills on a completely new level. The sextet will also be presented at PopKomm, the world's biggest music fair (Cologne, August 18), on the occasion of ENJA's 30th Anniversary.
Nils Wogram (trombone, comp), Chris Speed (tenor sax, clarinet), Hayden Chisholm (alto sax), Cuong Vu (trumpet), Steffen Schorn (baritone sax, bass cl), Jochen Rückert (drums), Simon Nabatov (piano) (on CD 2), Henning Sieverts (bass) (on CD 2).
9 Tracks.