Wednesday Night Prayer Orchestra
© Eckhard Derschmidt
line up
Robert Schröck - alto saxophone
Ludwig Bekic - alto saxophone, band leader
Jakob Gnigler - tenor saxophone
Christian Gonsior - tenor saxophone
Monika Geyer - baritone saxophone
Markus Pechmann - trumpet
Walter Fend - trumpet
Thomas Berghammer - trumpet
Lukas Hartl - trumpet
Phil Yaeger - trombone
Karel Eriksson - trombone
Matthias Zeindlhofer - trombone
Christina Lachberger - trombone
Stephanie Weninger - piano
Helene Glüxam - double bass
Lukas Aichinger - drums
Founded at the beginning of 2023, the Wednesday Night Prayer Orchestra interprets well-known compositions from big bands of the last 100 years and is inspired by music outside the big band cosmos on the journey to its own sound. A major focus is on collective improvisation.
Charles Mingus's song Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting gives its name and is groundbreaking for the big band around the Viennese saxophonist and composer Ludwig Bekic. Groundbreaking because in this album Mingus draws a line from the tradition of driving blues and gospel and the polyphony of early jazz to the burgeoning free jazz.
With the Little Stage a suitable venue has been found in the fifth district of Vienna. The back room with the not-so-small stage is the ideal place for the (almost) weekly workshop concerts. If you've always wanted to sit in a big band, you're right in the middle of it here - We can't wait until Sunday!