1967
First public appearance
in concert with his original composition “Red Fever”
1971
Member of the Hobsons Choice Blues Band
1975
Member of the Munich based jazzgroup TAYO
1978
Leader of his own group “UP”
production of 2 albums “UP – Inside” and “UP – Night Delight” (UMR 100,101)
1983
Music award of Deutsche Phonoakademie for UP
Study Violin with Lynn Blakeslee at the Mozarteum (Salzburg)
1984
Founded the Modern String Quartet
Joerg Widmoser – first violin
They are new dimension of string quartet. The first string quartet to play jazz and improvised music. Touring USA, Asia, Africa, Europe and the Middle East, awards and TV productions, 7 CDs recorded
The Modern String Quartet has become one of the leading international string quartets
1985
Toured US in cooperation with Tony Williams, Woody Shaw, John Blake, Tyron Brown, Bob Dorough, Steve Rudolph, Barbara Dennerlein, Harvie Swartz, Joey de Francesco
1986
UP wins competition “Newcomer music award of capital city Munich with the Modern String Quartet
1987
Joerg Widmoser wins the first price in an international jazz violin competition in Stettin/Poland.
Tour with Overtone Chamber Quartet through Eastern Europe
1988
The Reunion Band (a German-US cooperation with Tony Williams and Steve Rudolph) tours Germany and the US (LP Live in Munich, UMR 103).
Tour with “three voices” (Mercedes Sosa, Joan Baez, Konstantin Wecker)
1990
Touring West Africa with the Modern String Quartet
1992
Touring Israel – Maccabee Festival Tel-Aviv – Cyprus and Greece with the Modern String Quartet
1994
With the Modern String Quartet in Sudan, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Turkey
1996
Founding of a Duo with Hajo Hoffmann (A Touch of Jazz Violins), production of 2 CDs.
Legendary concert at the Munich festival Klaviersommer 98
1999
John McLaughlins Apokalypse is being performed again live on stage. Joerg Widmoser plays solo electric violin (originally by Jean Luc Ponty) together with guitarist Adam Rogers (New York) and the Dresdner Symphonics at a fantastically received open Air concert in Dresden.
With the Modern String Quartet celebrating Duke Ellingtons 100th birthday (Black, Brown and Beige). Helmut Danninger becomes the fifth member of the group. The stage director manages the scenic appearance of the quartet. Music and performance flow together.
Jazzviolin Summit in Philadelphia, PA. Joerg Widmoser appears together with the most renowned violinists John Blake and the legendary Claude Williams (now 91 years). It is the highlight at the jazzfestival Philadephia
2000
JW performs as soloist on tour with the “Kammerorchester Schloss Werneck” and the Jazz Age Sextett. A CD with the tours slogan “Happy Birthday Duke” was recorded.
2001
The MSQ performed at the “Berliner Festspiele”. They presented a program named “20th century composers”, an overview with compositions by Steve Reich, Phillip Glass and also compositions of members of the MSQ.
Several concerts took place at renowned Festivals as Bregenz, Burghausen and Rome.
Joerg Widmoser performed as soloist in NY’s Jazzclub “Dearhead Inn”, together with Phil Woods drummer Bill Goodwin.
2002
Widmoser toured together with Hoffmann the “Niedersaechsische Musiktage” and the Lodz Festival, Poland.
The Modern String Quartet worked with Klaus Doldinger.
on 2002.2.2. two symphonic works, composed by Joerg Widmoser had their world premiere with the Brandenburger Symphoniker. JW played solo violin.
A CD was recordes in November 2002.
The Modern String Quartet worked with Charlie Mariano and recorded a CD.
In August JW held lectures for jazz violin at the famous “Fiddle Conference” organised by Mark O’Connor in San Diego/Kalifornien.
JW meets the best of american fiddlers – a number of great concerts were performed together.
In late August another violin summit took place with Claude “fiddler” Williams, John Blake und JW in Philadelphia.
2003
„The German Jazz Violins“ on tour.
Project Modern String Quartet meets Luis Borda (Argentinien)
Stringsextet Modern String Quartet + Thomas Stabenow + Matt Glaser (professor for jazz violin at Berklee School of Music, Boston) f.i. appearing Rheingau Musik Festival
2004
New CD and performance of the Modern String Quartet „Watermusic“.
4 centuries of music flow into the concept of the MSQ.
Foundateion of “Joerg Widmoser and Friends”. Joerg Widmoser is playing a Midi-Violine, besides the classic instrument.
2005
Joerg Widmoser becomes a member of the world music formation “L´Òrchestre Europa” and does CD recordings and tours.
The MSQ tours Europe with its programme „Watermusic“.
Niedersächsische Musiktage with the programme „Krieg und Frieden“.
German tour with “Joerg Widmoser and Friends”.
2006
Foundation of the “Joe Haider Double Quartet”. MSQ meets the “Joe Haider Jazzquartett” and performs a tour through Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The CD „Mysterious“ (Double Moon Records 71051) is recorded.
Modern String Quartet at Styriate, together with four musicians from Iraque and the “Ensemble Sarband” the “Arabian Passion” is performed.
2007
German tour with Joerg Widmoser and Friends.
With Sarband at the Orientfestival in Singapore.
With MSQ at Schleswig Holstein Musik Festival.
2008
MSQ performs at Nordlysfestivalen in Norway, and at the Opera Nationale Bordeaux (Watermusic).
Cultural award of the city of Nuremberg for Orchestre Europa.
Touring Germany with Orchestre Europa.
2009
CD „Celebrating Stephane Grappelli“ (Joerg Seidels Gypsy Jazz Connection).
With MSQ in Abu Dhabi (book award of Arabia)
2010
Universal Quartet performs at the jazzfestival Eskilstuna (Sweden)
The Modern String Quartet records the Welltempered Klavier (J.S. Bach). New arrangement for string quartet by Joerg Widmoser.
Touring Spain and Ruhrtrienale with Sarband.
2011
Concerts with the indian Percussionguru Vaidyanathan Suresh (Ghatam/southindia).
CD Production and tour with Billy Hart und Tied and Tickled Trio.
Passio-Compassio Modern String Quartet, Vocanima Köln
19.11. New York (USA), Lincoln Center, White Light Festival.
2012
Universal Quartet performs at Beşiktaş summerfestival Istanbul (Turkey).
CD „J.S. Bach: The Welltempered Klavier“ arranged for string quartet by Joerg Widmoser.
Touring Germany with RADIO EUROPA. CD „live at the cinema“.
5th violinsummit Philadelphia (PA)
2013
Sarah Kane production at Kammerspiele Municht, Berlin, Antwerpen and Breslau.
Modern String Quartet performs at Opera National de Bordeaux.
Project „Restlicht“ (Modern String Quartet+Werner Mally).
Festival Tonfolgen Sarband + Modern String Quartet.
2014
Lux 40, synestetic concert project at Postpalast, Munich.
Choir Vox anima (40 voices) + Michael Lutzeier + Modern String Quartet.
Passio – Compassio Beethoven festival Bonn with Saraband.
RADIO EUROPA performes at Rheingaufestival, Kissinger summer and Athens (Greece) for the Goethe Institut.
2015
CD „Formen“ Irmler-Oesterheld-Modern String Quartet
The Rest is Noise at Kammerspiele/Munich with Modern String Quartet
stringtrio with Hajo Hoffmann
Charlie Parker Project with Stefan Holstein
2016
Tour with Passo Avanti Hongkong – Ho Chi Minh Stadt – Da Nang – Singapore
memorial concert for Hans Ruland, „Ellingtonmania“
Tour with Tess Gerritsen
Arabic Passion with Saraband
BR Production Ensemble for syncretic music
2017
Concert at the conference „insanity – ecstasy, obsession, psychosis“
Deutschlandtourneen mit RADIO EUROPA
2018
Concerts with Ensemble for Synkretic Music
Album Modern String Quartet “The Rite of Swing”. Music by Igor Stravinsky and Duke Ellington. (UMR 137)
MSQ Europäische Wochen Passau
2nd Munich String Camp. International Workshop for jazz violin
Jazzfestival in Siena with Steve Rudolph (piano)
Moosbrand Literatur und Musikfest Stiftung Nantesbuch
Founding of Joerg Widmoser Trio (Joerg Widmoser as piano player)
2019
CD The Music of Charlie Parker with Joerg Widmoser – Stephan Holstein Quintet (UMR 138)
Joerg Widmoser is one of the top ten jazz violinists in the world.