Enjoy the music – the sound of the big band over the rooftops of the Dittmann houses

Against an unparalleled backdrop, you can experience a big band concert on Sunday. Above the rooftops of the Dittmanns, the Stanton Jazzclub Orchestra played numbers by Count Basie, Duke Ellington and Glenn Miller. As a surprise, the young percussionist David Weikertschläger, 11, from Groß-Siegharts, was given the opportunity to play two pieces as a guest musician. The exceptional young talent has already won numerous awards in various competitions.

The Stanton Jazzclub Orchestra is no stranger to Dittmann. They already appeared at the opening of the converted ballroom. The venue is connected to the Groß-Siegharts baritone saxophonist Helmut Scheiner. Some time ago we got in touch with the band again and the idea of ​​organising an outdoor concert in the summer was born.

Desire for a larger crew

The orchestra has been founded since the early 1970s and is thus the oldest big band in Austria. By founding this big band, jazz musicians from the traditional Viennese jazz scene, who were mainly active in Dixieland, New Orleans and swing formations, fulfilled their wish to be able to play together in a larger band.

Of the original cast, only Gunther Bruckner and Helmut Grossmann remain. “The others have either lost themselves, or are now sitting on cloud nine with Count Basie and Duke Ellington and having a great time,” says Helmut Grossmann. “The orchestra now consists of 16 musicians who also teach as music professors at colleges, universities or music schools, and who all conduct one or more orchestras.”

Big band sound reaches into the 60s

The orchestra's goal is to play very old big band numbers from the late 1930s to the 1960s at the latest. This is also their unique selling point that sets them apart from others. There are about 60 big bands in Austria, but they all play contemporary music.

Sieghartser band member Helmut Schiener also coordinated David Weikertschläger's appearance. “The little boy is very good,” says Grossmann enthusiastically. “We sent him the sheet music of an easier number, but he also wanted a more difficult piece. Before the concert, we played the songs once and it worked. It is worth noting that the most difficult piece, “Swinging the Blues,” is introduced with a few bars of drums and only then does the rest of the orchestra come in. He mastered that brilliantly, too.