Trombonist/ conductor/ vocalist Al Jacobson will be introducing Lethbridge jazz aficionados to the music of European jazz composers 
they might not hear otherwise.
He will be conducting the Contemporary Works Jazz Orchestra as well as playing trombone and scatting, June 17 at The Tongue N Groove.
“You don’t go away from a European jazz concert tapping your toes or snapping your fingers, but it will be interesting,” said Jacobson calling from his home just outside of Frankfurt, Germany.
Jacobson is busy. In addition to providing plenty of workshops and seminars as well as private teaching, he also teaches Jazz Trombone, Vocals and Ensembles at the Hochshule fur Musik Rheinland-Pfalz in Mainz, outside of Frankfurt plus teaches jazz trombone and vocals, improvisations, ensembles and big band at the Frankfurt Musik Hochschule (Univeristy of Performing Arts.)
He is also been on the faculty of the Peter-Cornelius Conservatory in Mainz and is a visiting professor at the Mannheim University of Performing Arts.
““European Jazz has some swing grooves, but there a lot of textures. They are influenced a lot by composers like Béla Bartók and Stravinsky. They are influenced by a lot of European composers,” he said.
“It is very different but it is still very accessable,” he continued.
The Edmonton born and raised musician has been all over the world with his trombone, but he is looking forward to coming back to Alberta and visiting his sister and some of his fellow musicians he grew up with. He likes to return to teach workshops and hold clinics.
He is enjoying living in Germany, where he has resided since 1999.
“It’s really good. The people are very nice and there is a lot of culture. They have a great health and education system and there is great support for the arts,” he said, noting the Frankfurt Airport is one of the busiest in the world and cultural centres like Paris and Rome are easily accessable.
“The climate is really nice too. It’s moist, like Vancouver,” he continued.
He is looking forward to visiting his sister and enjoying a vacation at her cabin in the Crowsnest Pass.
“It’s going to be so nice to be back home. I’m actually looking forwrd to the drive from Calgary to Lethbridge,” he said.
Jacobson will be conducting the Contemporary Works Jazz Orchestra, June 17 at the Tongue N Groove. Tickets are $17 for Lethbridge Jazz Society members and $22 for non-members.
