Skopje, 5 February 2025 (MIA) — The National Jazz Orchestra will give a concert of Afro-Cuban jazz music conducted by renowned big-band conductor Sigi Feigl of Austria at the Philharmonic on Feb. 20 at 8 pm.

The "Cuban Fire" concert, which will combine big-band jazz with Cuban rhythms and melodies, will honor American jazz band leader, pianist, composer and arranger Stan Kenton.

The National Jazz Orchestra will perform Kenton's most important compositions, including his landmark album "Cuban Fire!" that has been described as "exciting and cinematic fusion of Cuban and big-band music."

Sigi Feigl (b. 1961, Leibnitz, Austria) is a jazz musician, saxophonist and conductor. He has founded numerous ensembles in Austria and served as their artistic director or conductor, including Big Band Süd and Symphonic Orchestra Leibnitz. Feigl also founded the Jazz Festival Leibnitz and Jazz Big Band Graz as well as organized some 1,500 cultural events over the past 25 years.

In addition to helping develop the Austrian jazz scene, Feigl has played an important role for jazz music in Croatia. In 2002, Feigl founded the HGM Jazzorkestar Zagreb and served as its artistic director until 2014. The orchestra has performed at over 250 concerts and recorded five albums. Feigl also founded HGM.A’Band (2010), Zagreb Jazz Strings (2012) and Zagreb Jazzorkestar (2014).

In 2007, Feigl opened the local Jeunesses Musicale Austria in Leibnitz. In 2012, he toured with Jeunesses Musicales Jazz World, an ensemble formed by Jeunesses Musicales International, as their artistic director.

He has collaborated with many renowned musicians and artists, both in Austria and internationally, including Bill Holman, Toots Thielemans, Art Farmer, Mark Murphy, Bob Brookmeyer, Arturo Sandoval and others, gaining a reputation for his skillful leadership and innovative arrangements, organizers said. mr/