MARTIN STREULE JAZZ ORCHESTRA

A "lucky chance", a "refreshing wind blowing over the European Big Band Scene", a genius sound poet, these are citations of important Swiss Newspapers, showing in impressive manner that the MARTIN STREULE JAZZ ORCHESTRA has indeed become an enrichment to the jazz scene of its country. Ever since its foundation in 1997 the MSJO has performed exclusively the musical works, compositions and arrangements of its leader. Having experienced, on one hand, so many years of performing and, on the other hand, due to the excellent competence of the musicians, the orchestra has developed its unique sound. Some of the members of the orchestra are even considered to be amongst the best of young Swiss jazz musicians, and many of them have realized throughout the last years their own projects with great success.Highlights in the history of the Orchestra are the participation at Schaffhausen Jazz Festival (2003) and BeJazz Winterfestival (2002), as well as various performances at Moods' (Zurich) at Bird's Eye (Basel), at Dampfzentrale (Berne) and other well-established Swiss jazz clubs. Several radio transmissions have already taken place and three CDs have been produced (all in cooperation with Swiss Radio DRS 2). In addition to that, in 2003, the MSJO was the winner of the Jazz Prize of Zurich Cantonal Bank.The Jury's comments on MSJO"Martin Streule insists on not giving his ensemble the title of Big Band, but on calling it Orchestra. In the style of Western European art music, he follows up a symphonic approach. Martin Streule is thinking in extensive dimensions, creating complex sound-textures which leave to the audience the impression of sound-pictures. The variety of his music is remarkable. Since the last performances, the orchestra has evidently made a good job and so has melt down to a homogeneous concreteness in sound".Actually, the MSJO carries on with the concert cycle "THE FOUR ELEMENTS", started in 2003. The four elements are set to music in suites, each of them covering an evening programme. The compositions will be recorded on CD. The entire project is planned to be carried out within the following years.