JazzWerkstatt Wien JazzWerkstatt Records jazzwerkstatt@gmx.at www.jazzwerkstatt.at Initiative: Six Young Musicians JazzWerkstatt Wien was founded on the initiative of Clemens Wenger, Bernd Satzinger, Daniel Riegler, Peter Rom, Wolfgang Schiftner and Clemens Salesny. The goal of these young musicians was to create an inspiring working environment for themselves as well as other artists. In order to realize this idea they utilized a concept by the legendary BassistCharles Mingus, who in the early 1950´s established the Jazz Composers Workshop in San Francisco. Then as now, trying new approaches and working methods using mostly original compositions is one of the main goals. Creation and Presentation of Original Compositions: JazzWerkstatt is also a communication platform, bringing together musicians with different stylistic perspectives. The intention is to create a working environment and a performance space to create, practice and present new approaches and ideas. Six artistic directors form ensembles with musicians out of the "JazzWerkstatt-Pool" (approximately 60 players) combined with other musicians and artists according to the occasion. Im many cases interesting situations are created by including musicians, instruments and techniques of areas like classical, electronic or hip hop music. Projects in cooperation with painters or actors have also led to exciting results. The open nature of JazzWerkstatt enables the audience to observe the process of the creation and presentation of music directly and encourages to communicate with the artists. Werkstatt, Concerts, CD and Label: The first concert series took place from March 21 to April 17 2005 at the WUK museum and will be organized each year. It immediately became a significant reference point for artists, journalists and an audience of all ages. A CD-release of live recordings from this concert series was also the start for the newly founded label "JazzWerkstatt Records", emphasizing again the concept of independence. The CD was presented at the end of June 2005 in a 4-day concert series called "A.E.I.O.U. - Dirty Nightlines Of Kingsize Talents generated by JazzWerkstatt Wien" at the Porgy & Bess which found its celebratory end in the JazzWerkstatt Mass on Sunday Morning. In Autumn of 2005 Jazzwerkstatt concerts in Graz will include local artists in practice and performance.