Bassic Goldsby — 50 Years Onstage! (My last concert with the WDR Big Band)

Calendar

When:

December 21, 2024 @ 8:00 pm – 10:30 pm

2024-12-21T20:00:00+01:00

2024-12-21T22:30:00+01:00

Where:

WDR Funkhaus am Wallrafplatz
Wallrafplatz 1
Cologne
Germany

Contact:

Event website

Bob Mintzer Music of John Goldsby WDR Big Band

It’s with a heavy heart that I announce that after 30 years with this incredible ensemble, I’m retiring from the WDR Big Band beginning in January, 2025. I’m not ‘retiring’ from music and bass playing by any means, but my work with the WDR Big Band will conclude to make way for a new bassist to take over the position.

It’s a great job, and it’s meant the world to me to be able to work with this world-class big band for the past three decades. I offer my love and respect for all the great musicians, conductors, arrangers, composers, guest soloists, and WDR staff (management and recording crew) who have shared this journey with me. When I first started playing bass in the ’70s, my dream job was “studio jazz bassist”—and that’s what I’ve had with the WDR Big Band since 1994.

All the best,

John

***

A Jazz Celebration: 50 Years on Stage

The WDR Big Band featuring bassist John Goldsby

Cologne, Germany

This year marks a milestone in the history of the WDR Big Band, and to celebrate, we are thrilled to announce the upcoming concert event, “A Jazz Celebration: 50 Years on Stage.” This grand evening will pay homage to our renowned bassist, John Goldsby, and celebrate his illustrious 30-year career in the WDR Big Band.

The concert features the groovy and reflective Baden Baden Suite, composed by Goldsby himself. The suite is brilliantly arranged by the Chief Conductor of the band, legendary saxophonist, composer, and bandleader Bob Mintzer, and promises a set of new music that captivates and exhilarates with swinging aplomb.

The second set of the concert showcases a selection of Goldsby’s engaging compositions which the band has performed during his tenure—each piece a testament to his profound impact on the jazz genre and the WDR Big Band. The compositions are arranged by distinguished collaborators such as Michael Abene, Dave Horler, and John LaBarbera, who have each crafted unique interpretations of Goldsby’s work to honor his legacy and this special performance. Vince Mendoza, Composer-in-Residence of the WDR Big Band, also contributes his bass feature “Sonatina,” a rhythm soundscape that mirrors Goldsby’s support for the band, and the mutual respect and togetherness that the ensemble nourishes.

We cordially invite you to this special celebration with John Goldsby, Bob Mintzer, and the esteemed members of the WDR Big Band. Marking Goldsby’s milestone of two decades as an independent artist in the United States and three decades of remarkable performances with this distinguished ensemble in Germany, it’s an evening dedicated to jubilation and music. Be part of this extraordinary jazz celebration, a tribute to the enduring spirit and rich legacy of the WDR Big Band, and one bassist’s remarkable journey through the world of music.

Event Details:

Date: 21.12.2024
Time: 20:00
Venue: WDR, Funkhaus am Wallrafplatz, KvB Saal
Information: https://www1.wdr.de/orchester-und-chor/bigband/

Bassic Goldsby — 50 Years Onstage! (My last concert with the WDR Big Band)

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