Ed Partyka is a bass trombonist/tubist, composer/arranger and conductor. Originally from Chicago Illinois, he received a BA degree from Northern Illinois University before moving to Germany in 1990. He completed a master’s degree in jazz trombone performance at the Conservatory of Music in Cologne, where he was also a member of the G.E.M.A. Jazz Composers Workshop, led by Bob Brookmeyer. Ed has toured and recorded with the Bob Brookmeyer New Art Orchestra, Vienna Art Orchestra, Carla Bley, WDR Big Band, NDR Big Band, Mnozil Brass, Gansch & Roses and the Roman Schwaller Nonet. He currently leads the Ed Partyka Jazz Orchestra and was musical director of the Concert Jazz Orchestra Vienna from 1999 – 2006 and the Sunday Night Orchestra from 2000 – 2007. Mr. Partyka has appeared as a guest conductor with the Danish Radio Big Band, HR Big Band, NDR Big Band, RIAS Big Band, RTV Big Band Slovenia, Summit Jazz Orchestra, Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, Lucerne Jazz Orchestra, Generations Festival Big Band, Jazzgroove Mothership Orchestra, Aarhus Jazz Orchestra, Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw, Concept Art Orchestra, Milan Svoboda ́s Prague Big Band, Oslo Workshop Big Band, Graz Composers Orchestra and the German National Youth Jazz Orchestra (“BuJazzO”). Ed Partyka is currently artistic director and chief conductor of Finland’s UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra as well as Musical Director of the Zürich Jazz Orchestra.