Jiggs Whigham

Jiggs Whigham is an internationally acclaimed virtuoso trombonist, band leader and educator, who uses Bonn, London and Cape Cod as home bases.

This versatile performer, born Oliver Haydn Whigham III (the nickname Jiggs was given by his grandfather) in Cleveland Ohio on 20 August 1943, first came to the attention of critics and fans at 17, as featured soloist and first trombonist with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, directed by Ray McKinley. Two years later, he was first and solo trombonist with Stan  Kenton.

Following a year of studio and Broadway Musical engagements in New  York, he became featured soloist with the Kurt Edelhagen Jazz Orchestra at the West German Broadcasting Company in Cologne, Germany in 1965.

In 1966 Whigham was awarded 1st Prize at the first competition for Modern Jazz  in Vienna.

In 1979 he was named Professor and Head of the Jazz Department at Cologne University College of Music, the first appointment of its kind in Germany. In 1995 he was named “Professor for Life” and head of the Jazz-Popular Music Department at the “Hanns Eisler” College of Music in Berlin.

He was bandleader of the Swiss Radio Band (Radio DRS) from 1984-1986. From 1995-2000 he was chief conductor and artistic director of the Berlin Radio Orchestra (RIAS Big Band Berlin). From 2000-2001 he was visiting professor at Indiana University.

He is currently soloist and clinician worldwide, conductor of the BBC Big Band in Great Britain, artistic director of the Berlin Jazz Orchestra and visiting tutor at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, England. He is musical director of the LaJJOB (Brandenburger Youth Jazz Orchestra) and artistic director of the BUJAZZO (German Youth Jazz Orchestra).

Jiggs Whigham is President Emeritus of the International Trombone Association (ITA).

He is also a lifetime member of the ITA, the British Trombone Society (BTS) and the German Trombone Society (IPV).

Jiggs Whigham is active as a soloist, conductor, composer, author and educator. He is a clinician and ‘artist in residence’ for the Conn-Selmer Company .

Jiggs is author of the book “Jazz Trombone” (Edition Schott – ED 12710) and ‘Steps’ (a guide to jazz for wind ensemble (Edition Schott – ED 20910)).

For more information or to book Jiggs Whigham for concerts, festivals  or master classes, please email him at jiggs@jiggswhigham.com

Jiggs has played and/or recorded with among others Jamey Abersold, Pepper Adams, Cannonball Adderly, Manny Albam, Laurindo Almeida, Patti Austin, Benny Bailey, Count Basie, Louis Bellson, Tony Bennett, Gene Bertoncini, Paul Bley, Francy Boland, Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker,  Dee Dee Bridgewater, Till Broenner, Bob Brookmeyer, Ray Brown, Michael Bublé, Don Byas, Charlie Byrd, Conte Candoli, Betty Carter, Ron Carter, Bruno Castellucci, Ray Charles, Kenny Clarke, John Clayton, Billy Cobham, Al Cohn, Larry Coryell, Jamie Cullum, Eddie Daniels, Barbara Dennerlein, Klaus Doldinger, Paquito D’Rivera, Kenny Drew, Kurt Edelhagen, Harry “Sweets” Edison, Larry Elgart, Kurt Elling, Peter Erskine, Robin Eubanks, Bill Evans, Gil Evans, Art Farmer, Joe Farrell, Maynard Ferguson, Ella Fitzgerald, Curtis Fuller, Hal Galper, Judy Garland, Stan Getz, Astrud Gilberto, Dizzy Gillespie, Benny Golson, Benny Goodman, Eddie Gomez, Paul Gonzalves, Dexter Gordon, Wycliffe Gordon, Al Gray, Johnny Griffin, George Gruntz, Jeff Hamilton, Scott Hamilton, Jan Hammer, Lionel Hampton, Tom Harrell, Billy Hart, Peter Herbolzheimer, Joe Henderson, Billy Higgins, Milt Hinton, Bill Holman, Red Holloway, Bob Hope, Freddy Hubbard, Chuck Israels, Hank Jones, Quincy Jones, Thad Jones, Sheila Jordan, Bert Kaempfert, Stan Kenton, Barney Kessel, Chaka Khan, Lee Konitz,  Steve Lacy, Yusef Lateef, Jerry Lewis, Mel Lewis, Victor Lewis, Mundell Lowe, Johnny Mandel, Albert Mangelsdorff, Christian McBride, Jim McNeely, Charlie Mariano, Palle Mikkelborg, Bob Mintzer, Jane Monheit, Werner, Müller, Gerry Mulligan, Mark Murphy, The New York Voices, Lennie Niehaus, Judy Niemack, Sal Nistico, Walter Norris, Adam Nussbaum, Anita O’Day, Joe Pass, Jaco Pastorius, Niels-Henning Orsted Pederson, Jean Luc Ponty, Chris Potter, Gerard Presencer, Jeanfrançois Prins, Jerome Richardson, Max Roach, Shorty Rogers, Frank Rosolino, George Russell, Maria Schneider, Lalo Schifrin, Bud Shank, Woody Shaw, Gary Smulyan, Lew Soloff, Terell Stafford, Donna Summer, Grady Tate, John Taylor, Clark Terry, Toots Thielmans, Ed Thigpen, Ack van Rooyen, Jerry van Rooyen, Jasper van’t Hof, Catherina Valente, Sarah Vaughn,Mal Waldron, Cedar Walton, Ernie Watts, Kenny Werner, Joe Williams, Gerald Wilson, Nancy Wilson, Kenny Wheeler, Kai Winding, Phil Woods, Snooky Young, Joe Zawinul.

Jiggs Whigham plays King Trombones exclusively (produced by Conn-Selmer)

artist's website