Nils Wogram, creative jazz trombonist and composer, has recorded and performed in many settings including solo and large ensembles. He has also released more than 20 albums as a leader and co-leader. Wogram was born in Braunschweig in 1972. He began classical training at Braunschweig School of Music at the age of 12. Wogram won numerous awards at Jegend Musiziert, as well as other honors and grants that came from his classical and jazz music skills. Wogram was a member of the German Federal Jazz Orchestra, which was led by Peter Herbolzheimer in 1989. Wogram moved to New York City three years later thanks to a grant that allowed him to study composition, arrangement and trombone at the New School. He studied with Reggie Workman and Conrad Herwig while in America. His debut album, New York Conversations was recorded by him under the Mons Records label in 1994. Wogram founded the Nils Wogram Quartet, which included cellist and bassist Henning Siverts, pianist Simon Nabatov and drummer Jochen Rüeckert. Wogram performed solo and with his quartet at many festivals and concerts around the globe. Round Trip, Wogram’s second album was released by Enja Records in 1997. Speed Life followed it a year later with tracks like “King of Trash”, “Hotel Blues,” or “Circle”. Wogram ended the ’90s by recording two duo albums, As We Don’t Know It with pianist Nabatov, and Serious Fun together with fellow German trombonist Konrad Bauer. Wogram began a busy schedule of recording dates in the new millennium, leading many ensembles that showcased his versatility in post-bop and modern jazz as well as creative improvisation and other styles. Wogram led a sextet and an octet of creative jazzers from Europe and the United States on the 2001 Enja album Odd and Awkward. The trombonist also introduced Root 70, a group featuring Hayden Chisholm as saxophonist, Matt Penman as bassist, and Rueckert as drummer. Their debut album was released on 2nd Floor. Root 70 would go on to become one of Wogram’s longest-standing ensembles. There were several albums that were released over the next decade, including Fahrvergnugen (2006), Intuition (2006), Getting Rooted (2006), and Heaps Dub (2006). Also, there were several “Conceptual Works” albums, including the imaginary jazz standards album On52nd 1/4 Street (2008), Intuition (2008), the bluesy Listen to Your Woman (2011), NWOG, and the chamber-jazz-informed Riomar (2014), NWOG (2014, NWOG). Portrait of a BandWogram collaborated with NDR Bigband for 2007’s Enja recording Portrait of a Band. The Nostalgia Trio (featuring Arno Krijger) explored Hammond-fueled groove jazz with Dejan Terzic, drummer. The recordings of the latter include Daddy’s Bones (2004), Intuition (2008), Affinity (2008), Intuition, and Sturm und Drang (2011), NWOG. Wogram continued to record and perform in duos during the new millennium, especially with pianist Nabatov. They released the albums Starting a Story, Act, The Move, 2005, Between the Lines, Jazz Limbo (2007-Leo), and Moods and Modes (2011), NWOG. Wogram lives in Zurich and teaches at the Lucerne School of Music.
