Biography
Theo Jörgensmann, a German clarinetist and composer born in 1948, ranks among the leading contemporary free improvisers on his instrument. His approach merges introspective chamber jazz with subtle echoes of modal hard bop. His earliest sessions appeared in the closing years of the 1970s: the quintet date Go Ahead Clarinet from 1978 and the quartet release Song of Vowage from 1979, both issued by CMP. In the latter part of the 1980s and the opening years of the 1990s he performed with the Dutch experimental large ensemble Contraband. He simultaneously directed the Werkschau Ensemble, which included violinist Albrecht Maurer and percussionist Achim Krämer; the group documented its work on the 1993 Konnex album Aesthetic Direction.
Jörgensmann subsequently assembled a standing quartet with vibist Christopher Dell, bassist Christian Ramond, and drummer Klaus Kugel. This lineup helped introduce his music to a broader international audience devoted to improvised music. The ensemble’s debut recording, Ta Eko Mo, was made for Z.o.o. in 1997 and met with favorable notices. The next year the same musicians collaborated with veteran trumpeter Kenny Wheeler.
The year 1999 marked a decisive breakthrough: the quartet’s first hatOLOGY release, Snijbloemen, brought Jörgensmann his greatest visibility to date and again drew strongly positive commentary. That same year he took the group on a North American tour that included appearances at the Du Maurier Festival in Vancouver and the Montreal Jazz Festival; he also completed two recordings with poet Michael Klaus. His following undertaking paired him with bass clarinetist Eckard Koltermann under the name German Clarinetduo; the duo released Pagine Gialle on hatOLOGY in 2001.
Jörgensmann subsequently assembled a standing quartet with vibist Christopher Dell, bassist Christian Ramond, and drummer Klaus Kugel. This lineup helped introduce his music to a broader international audience devoted to improvised music. The ensemble’s debut recording, Ta Eko Mo, was made for Z.o.o. in 1997 and met with favorable notices. The next year the same musicians collaborated with veteran trumpeter Kenny Wheeler.
The year 1999 marked a decisive breakthrough: the quartet’s first hatOLOGY release, Snijbloemen, brought Jörgensmann his greatest visibility to date and again drew strongly positive commentary. That same year he took the group on a North American tour that included appearances at the Du Maurier Festival in Vancouver and the Montreal Jazz Festival; he also completed two recordings with poet Michael Klaus. His following undertaking paired him with bass clarinetist Eckard Koltermann under the name German Clarinetduo; the duo released Pagine Gialle on hatOLOGY in 2001.
Albums