Biography
Thomas Winteler, born in Geneva on June 28, 1965, began music at the age of 6, first with the flute and then turned to the clarinet 3 years later. He won the 1st prize for virtuosity at the Lausanne Conservatory in 1987 and won several competitions in the eighties.
Discovering clarinetist Johnny Dodds with his exceptional sound, Thomas began traditional jazz at the age
of 15 with the family orchestra "Old Time Gang", his father playing the cornet, his mother the piano, and his sister first the trombone, then the banjo. A few years later, Thomas began the saxophone, first alto, but especially soprano, having discovered with fascination the music of Sidney Bechet.
Thomas joined the “Only Blue Stompers” in 1996 and won jazz contests in Megève in 2001, in St-Rafael in 2000 (named best soloist), 2003, 2006 and played at the Whitley Bay Jazz Festival in 2005.
He created the “South Side Jazz Serenaders” with René Hagmann in 1997 to explore the style of the 20s played in the "south side" of Chicago played notably by the Dodds brothers as well as compositions by Sidney Bechet, Clarence Williams, and Willie Smith "the Lion". This orchestra won numerous international jazz contests and participated in numerous international festivals, especially in France and England. Their latest record (Stomp off) is called "Livin' high" and has elicited very positive reactions.
In 2008, Thomas created his own orchestra with the rhythmic base of the “South Side Jazz Serenaders” and adding Bent Persson from Sweden (among the best representatives of the Louis Armstrong style in all of Europe) and Rodolphe Campomizzi who is a very well-known trombonist in France (Jazzogènes, Antracite). Consequently, Louis Armstrong's themes and notably the Hot Five / Seven have a prime place in the repertoire which is completed by themes from Sidney Bechet, Johnny Dodds.
Thomas is a member of the orchestras Fats Boys and Swiss Tribe.
Thomas is also part of the Jazz and Co. association, which organizes jazz concerts in the cellars of the Château de Coppet, and is responsible for organizing the Rive Jazzy festival, which takes place every summer in Nyon, on the shores of Lake Geneva.
Discovering clarinetist Johnny Dodds with his exceptional sound, Thomas began traditional jazz at the age
of 15 with the family orchestra "Old Time Gang", his father playing the cornet, his mother the piano, and his sister first the trombone, then the banjo. A few years later, Thomas began the saxophone, first alto, but especially soprano, having discovered with fascination the music of Sidney Bechet.
Thomas joined the “Only Blue Stompers” in 1996 and won jazz contests in Megève in 2001, in St-Rafael in 2000 (named best soloist), 2003, 2006 and played at the Whitley Bay Jazz Festival in 2005.
He created the “South Side Jazz Serenaders” with René Hagmann in 1997 to explore the style of the 20s played in the "south side" of Chicago played notably by the Dodds brothers as well as compositions by Sidney Bechet, Clarence Williams, and Willie Smith "the Lion". This orchestra won numerous international jazz contests and participated in numerous international festivals, especially in France and England. Their latest record (Stomp off) is called "Livin' high" and has elicited very positive reactions.
In 2008, Thomas created his own orchestra with the rhythmic base of the “South Side Jazz Serenaders” and adding Bent Persson from Sweden (among the best representatives of the Louis Armstrong style in all of Europe) and Rodolphe Campomizzi who is a very well-known trombonist in France (Jazzogènes, Antracite). Consequently, Louis Armstrong's themes and notably the Hot Five / Seven have a prime place in the repertoire which is completed by themes from Sidney Bechet, Johnny Dodds.
Thomas is a member of the orchestras Fats Boys and Swiss Tribe.
Thomas is also part of the Jazz and Co. association, which organizes jazz concerts in the cellars of the Château de Coppet, and is responsible for organizing the Rive Jazzy festival, which takes place every summer in Nyon, on the shores of Lake Geneva.
Gallery
Played with
Olivier Clerc
Drums
Jacques Ducrot
Drums, Clarinet, Saxophone
Philippe Martel
Piano
Maximilien Anhorn
Drums, Washboard