2009

Jens Winther moves to Geneve , Switzerland

Jens Winther receives a lifelong grant from The Danish Arts Foundation, and is thereby officially recognized as one of Denmark's most important artists!

Jens Winther moves to Berlin and signs up with Otone management (www.o-tonemusic.de )

JW Berlin Quintet, A-Trane, February

JW European Quartet, Washause, Potsdam Berlin, March 22, Featured Till Brönner, trumpet.

For further information about 2009, please see my concert calendar

2008

Founded a new fusion band: JW Electrazz Worldpremiere in Copenhagen Jazzhouse March 22

Tours Germany with JW European Quartet

Recorded at Bayrische Rundfunk, March 11, and rec. Copenhagen, may 5th , for the NEW CD.

Double CD, JW European Quartet, “Directions /NEW Directions”, released November 2008.

JW Soloist at Budapest Jazzfestival, Michaly Bordely Quartet, May.

JW Soloist with Till Brönner and Band, plus Berliner Chamber Orchestra, “BACH Festival”, June 13th

JW soloist with Nené TRIO, Sáo Paulo, Brazil, toured Brazil, rio de Janeiro, Jazzfestival Festival Bela Horizonte, Aug/sept.

JW European Quartet, European tours: London “Piazza Express”; Jazzfestival Rumania, Kronstadt Brasov;

and concerts in Germany.(A-trane, Berlin, BIX Stuttgart; Frankfurt Jazzkeller, Reutlingen etc.)

2007

2007 Marked an international breakthrough for JW European Quintet with gigs all over the world

May

Australia: Melbourne International Jazzfestival, Sydney, Perth, Brisbane amo.

June

USA: Rochester Jazz festival, Washington DC, New York amo.

June/July

Canada: All major jazzfestivals, , Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa, Calgary, Medicine Hat, Edmonton, Saaskatoon, Victoria amo.

September

China: Beijng NEW Jazz festival and other Beijing venues - arranged by Danish Cultural Institute

September

Trekking and traveling in Tibet

Oct/Nov.

The quintet is now a quartet, Tours and festivals in Europe and Scandinavia

Amo. Jazza Metz - France, Ettlingen Jazzfestival and Viersen Jazzfestival etc.

2006

Two Scandinavian tours w/ Jens Winther European Quintet, comprising 25 concerts.

Further tours to summer jazz festivals in Copenhagen, Oslo, Hornbæk (DK) and Hillerød (DK)

Studied the music and rituals of Tibetan Buddhist monks in Ladakh, Tibet. This was made possible with a grant from DJBFA.

Took part in the Toronto Fanfare Project.

Soloist in the Oslo Workshop Bigband.

Toured Germany with Anke Helfrich Quartet.

Wrote the work “Human Being” for Big Band and choir. Commissioned by Bissamblazz Bigband and the Coral Paulistano Choir in Brazil.

Played the works “Human Being” and “Angels” (also by Jens Winther) in the Teatro Municipal de Sao Paulo, with the aforementioned ensembles.

The works were studio recorded, and are yet awaiting public release.

2005

Preparing Jens Winther European Quintet for summer festivals, DK and Scandinavia. Connected to that, studio CD recording. Released October 2005. (JW E. Quintet featuring Palle Danielson, Antonio Farao, Dejan Terzic, Tomas Franck and JW)

CD “Concorde” with the European Jazz Quintet is released

2004

Tours and festivals in Belgium and Germany with own small group. “Facing the Sun” with Nürnberg Symphonic Orchestra and Big Band, June 2004. Composed 90 min, of new music for DR Big Band. Performed and live-recorded January and February

2003

Working with RTS Big Band, Belgrade. Summer Festivals and tour in Spain with Jens Winther European Quintet feat. Antonio Farao and Dejan Terzic. Various recordings with small groups, Ed Thigpen Scantet, Carsten Dahl, Jon Christensen, Palle Danielson

2002

Commissioned for 45 min. of music for NDR Big Band, Hamburg + various projects as a conductor for NBR Big Band. Projects with WDR Big Band, Cologne, Odense Musikkonservatorium, doing „Pluto and Beyond“ (Symphony & Big Band). Tours with Jens Winther Sextet, Dejan Terzic European Assembly and various soloists jobs in Europe.

2001

Projects with German Big Bands, NDR (Hamburg), Rias (Berlin). Recording with German small groups, Dejan Terzic European Assembly (with Tony Lakatos, Antonio Farao) and tours in Europe etc. Tour and recording with own group “Walk the walk, Talk the talk“. Recordings and concerts with Ben Besiakov Quintet, with Billy Hart and George Garzone. 7 recording projects for radio broadcast or CD releases, as well as studio jobs as trumpet soloist for films etc.

2000

Composed “Pluto and Beyond“, a 40 min. commissioned work for the Metropole Orchestra. Recorded February 2001. Tours with own group and various German small groups.

1999

April 29th, Jens Winther and Århus Symphonic Orchestra had first performance with the 2nd. trumpet concerto “The Eagle“ in Århus Musikhus.

1998

Commissioned work for the Metropole Orchestra in Holland (60 piece orchestra) where he also acts as a soloist. Performed April (35 min. of music) “Facing the Sun“. Commissioned work for the Danish Radio Big Band and the Danish Radio Concert Choir (45 min. of music) “Angels“. World-premiere November 11th. at the art gallery Louisiana. Toured with George Gruntz Concert band Oct-Nov. As a trumpet player he is mainly working with his small group (quartet), and usually playing in the in the writing projects as well.

1997

Different writing and playing jobs for the Danish Radio Big Band, the drummer Mike Clarke, working with Big Bands in Nürnberg and Spain among others. The official opening of the Rhythmic Conservatory performing “The Four Elements“. Starts working at his second trumpet-concerto for Århus Symphony Orchestra, world performance April 29th.1999.

1994

May 5th. his first Trumpet-concerto for Symphony Orchestra, “Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra“ is performed for the first time. The concerto was also performed at an international music festival in Riga on October 6th. 1994. 1995 Various commissioned works, e.g. for the Danish Radio Light Orchestra, various CD recordings, some in New York. 1996 Commissioned works for the Cultural City of Europe 1996 (Copenhagen), among others “The Four Elements“ for extended big band (one hour of music) and a suite “The Beginning-Now The-Future-Beyond“, for the European Broadcast Union’s Big Band (also one hour of music). From October to December on tours in Europe, Brazil and Australia as trumpet player, among others with Scandinavian / Australian Sextet.

1993

Composition for Randers City Chamber Orchestra, Big Band and St. Peder Choir among others.

1992

Composition for organ, percussion and trumpet “After Silence“ among others.

1991

Back in Denmark. Doing various writing and playing projects for the Danish Radio, Aalborg Symphony Orchestra, UMO Big Band in Finland, Swedish Radio, Norwegian Radio NRK, German Radio Big Band such as NDR in Hamburg, WDR in Cologne, SDR in Stuttgart among others Worked full time since 1991 as a composer and trumpet soloist besides having his own small group (Jens Winther Group).

1989

Left the Big Band and moved to New York, due to an invitation to join a two-year workshop, “Jazz Composer’s Workshop“, under the direction of Bob Brookmeyer. Worked also as a professional trumpet player in New York with various groups and musicians such as Toshiko Akoishi Band, Eddie Palmieri, Kenny Barron, Max Roach, Tito Puente, Marie Bauza Orchestra, George Mraz, Xavier Cugat Orchestra, and others.

1985

Started writing for the Big Band. Thad Jones was leader at the time.

1982

Was appointed solo trumpet player in the Danish Radio Big Band.

1978

Became professional freelance trumpet player in the jazz area. Played with various local groups and the New Jungle Orchestra, Erling Kroner Tentet, Candentia Nova Danica, Ernie Wilkins Almost Big Band and others.

1970

Started playing the trumpet

1960

October 29th born in Næstved, Denmark