Ed Neumeister With The Conservatorium Jazz Orchestra

One of America’s most distinguished big band musicians puts the Sydney Conservatorium Jazz Orchestra through its paces in a series of open rehearsals, culminating in a concert on April 17th.

Ed Neumeister has been at the forefront of jazz for more than 40 years. Presently Professor of Jazz Trombone at the University of the Performing Arts, Graz Austria, he has also worked with high level classical ensembles as a conductor and composer.

Ed Neumeister was born in Kansas, he grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area in the 50’s and 60’s. He began playing music at the age of 5 with trumpet. He switched to trombone when he was nine. After moving to New York in 1980, Ed performed for 15 years in the Duke Ellington Orchestra, and 19 years with the Mel Lewis Big Band which, during Neumeister’s tenure became the multi Grammy-nominated Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. He has also performed and recorded with renowned artists like  Jerry Garcia, Gerry Mulligan, Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin, Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughn. He has also performed with the New York Philharmonic, the San Francisco Symphony and the San Francisco Ballet.

In 1992, Ed toured for the first time as a guest soloist in Europe. Since then he has been invited extensively as a conducter and guest soloist in Europe and US. Many of these invitations include commissions for new works mixing the traditions of Big Band Jazz and Contemporary Classical. His arrangement of A Nightingale sang in Berkeley Square was nominated for a Grammy Award.

Through his work conducting and composing, Ed established, among others, a regular relationship with the Metropol Radio Orchestra (Netherlands) and the Budapest Jazz Orchestra (Hungary). He is the founder of the NeuHat Ensemble in New York, an 18-piece hybrid ensemble, and of ENJO Ed Neumeister Jazz Orchestra in New York and Los Angeles. As a leader, he has recorded seven albums. Since 2007 Ed has also been active in the film music business. He has contributed orchestrations for films such as Inception, Sherlock Holmes, The Dark Knight and the 2012 Academy Awards.  

Tue April 15, 10am – 12pm Music Workshop, Sydney Conservatorium of Music – open CJO rehearsal.

Wed April 16, 12 – 3pm Music Workshop, Sydney Conservatorium of Music – open CJO rehearsal.

Thu April 17, 10am – 1pm Verbrugghen Hall – open CJO rehearsal.

Thu April 17, evening concert Verbrugghen Hall

Tickets: $20 adults, $10 concessions – purchased via City Recital Hall (02) 8256 2222 or 1300 797 118