ABOUT
Founded in 1978, OPUS 78 has the traditional set-up of a classical big band comprising 5 saxophones (flute & clarinet), 4 trumpets (Flugelhorn), 4 trombones as well as a rhythm section of keyboard, guitar, drums and bass. The big band may be extended with singers, choir and strings depending on the concert programme requirements.
The spectrum covered by the ensemble includes the classical big band repertoire, contemporary jazz arrangements, as well as pop and funk.
Over the past years OPUS 78 produced or co-produced several large events; it further performed with well-known jazz, pop and rock musicians:
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Jon Lord and Doogie White (Deep Purple)
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Mike Mainieri (Steps Ahead)
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Candy Dulfer (Saxophon)
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Peter Herbolzheimer (Bandleader)
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Barbara Dennerlein (Hammond Orgel)
Maynard Ferguson and the band members of the «Big Bop Nouveau Band»: Andrea Tofanelli, Ernie Hammes, Denis di Blasio, and Reggie Watkins. Michael Abene, bandleader of the WDR Big Band and the band musicians Marshall Gilkes (band leader & trombone), Andy Haderer (trumpet), Frank Chastenier (piano), and Paul Heller (saxophone).Opus 78 also had the pleasure of collaborating with funk legend Eumir Deodato together with Gerardo Velez (Percussion)
The vocalists:
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Patti Austin
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Silvia Droste
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Fay Claassen
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Joan Orleans
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Kasia Laska
as well as the Ladies of Soul: Deidra Jones, Onita Boone und Nina Simone and many others…
Moreover, OPUS 78 produced six albums over the years, the most recent of which from and with Luxembourg jazz musicians.
In 2022, OPUS 78 won the 1st UGDA European Big Band Contest and the 1st Luxembourg Music Award (Lëtzebuerger Musekspräisser) in the category "recreational music".