About
Nils Wogram is regarded as one of Europe’s most important jazz musicians. He performs at major festivals and tours worldwide, both with his own bands and as a featured soloist. He is best known for his highly virtuosic trombone playing, his original compositions, and his role as bandleader of long-standing ensembles with a distinctive ensemble sound.
In 2010, he founded his own label, nwog-records, where he releases all of his albums. Nils Wogram’s bands perform exclusively his original music.
Nils`Musical Philosophy
Nils Wogram’s music is deeply rooted in the jazz tradition, yet he constantly seeks new ways to expand its language by incorporating harmonic, formal, melodic, and rhythmic elements from genres beyond jazz. A devoted fan of cohesive ensembles with a distinctive sound, he leads several long-standing bands—most notably Root 70, active since 2000. Wogram believes that the greatest music in history has been created by working bands, with Duke Ellington and Miles Davis serving as his key role models as bandleaders.
Working Bands
- Nils Wogram Root 70 (since 2000)
- Nils Wogram Nostalgia (since 2004)
- Nils Wogram Muse (since 2021)
- Vertigo Trombone Quartet (since 2014)
- Nils Wogram Solo (since 2020)
- Nils Wogram Joe Sachse Duo (since 2014)
- Nils Wogram Bojan Z. (since 2012)
- Nils Wogram Saadet Türköz (since 2012)
- NDR Bigband feat. Nils Wogram (since 2005)
- Nils Wogram Septet (since 2005)
- Nils Wogram Conny Bauer Duo (since 1999)
Curriculum
|
1972 |
Born in Braunschweig, Germany |
|
1980 |
Begins listening to his father’s jazz records |
|
1984 |
Starts euphonium lessons at the age of 12, as his arms are still too short for the trombone slide |
|
1987 |
Switches to trombone lessons with Reinhard Feldmann after his arms have grown |
|
1989 |
Joins the Youth Jazz Orchestra of Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen) |
|
1990 |
Becomes a member of the German National Youth Jazz Orchestra (BuJazzO), directed by Peter Herbolzheimer |
|
1992 |
Studies in New York City from 1992 to 1994, first at The New School and later at the Mannes College of Music |
|
1994 |
Returns to Germany and continues studies at the University of Music in Cologne |
|
1999 |
Graduates from the Hochschule für Musik Köln (University of Music, Cologne) |
|
2004 |
Begins teaching at the Lucerne School of Music sites.hslu.ch/jazz |
Prizes and Schoolarships
Jugend musiziert – National German Youth Competition (classical)
Scholarships at The New School and Mannes College of Music, New York City
Jazz Award of SWR Radio
Jazz Award of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia
Jazz Award of the City of Cologne
Jazzpott Award, Essen
Jazz Star Award, Abendzeitung Munich
Composition Prize, Julius Hemphil Competition
Frank Rosolino Competition
Jazz Award of the Jazz Ost-West Festival, Nuremberg
GEMA Prize for Jazz Composition
BMW Jazz Award (with Root 70)
Jazz Echo
Albert Mangelsdorff Prize
Work Year granted by the City of Zurich
Swiss Music Prize
German Jazz Prize
Prix du Musicien Européen
JTI Jazz Award
Award of the German Record Critics