"Celebration" - the 2012 Leipzig Jazz Days celebrate the 100th birthday of Gil Evans and the 70th of John Taylor with a breathtaking voice from Italy and a US saxophone legend.

The Canadian composer and bandleader is considered the father of cool jazz; with the novel sound effects of his arrangements, he became a visionary of the modern big band sound. 2012 also marks the 70th birthday of British pianist and composer John Taylor on the calendar. The Cologne university professor emeritus, a central figure on the European jazz scene, has devoted himself increasingly to composition for jazz orchestra in recent years. To celebrate the double anniversary at the Leipzig Opera, he will pay tribute to the great colleague Gil Evans with new pieces and arrangements. John Taylor last appeared with the WDR Big Band in March 2010 - then, as this time, alongside Diana Torto. The singer from Abruzzo fascinates with the sensual, extraordinarily Mediterranean timbre of her voice as well as with her supple and versatile art of improvisation.
WDR Big Band feat. John Taylor (p), Diana Torto (voc) & special guest Lee Konitz (sax).