Ed Partyka is a bass trombonist, tubist, composer, arranger and conductor, who serves as the Musical Director of the Zurich Jazz Orchestra and Chief Conductor & Artistic Director of Finland’s UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra. He was the long-time bass trombonist with Bob Brookmeyer's New Art Orchestra, including seminal recordings New Works Celebration, Get Well Soon, & Spirit Music, among others. He was recipient of the 2000 “A.S.C.A.P. / I.A.J.E. Commission Honouring the Centenary of Louis Armstrong”. He currently leads the Ed Partyka Jazz Orchestra and was Musical Director of the Concert Jazz Orchestra Vienna from 1999 – 2006. Partyka has appeared as a guest conductor with ensembles including the Danish Radio Big Band, NDR Big Band, Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw, Concept Art Orchestra, and the Graz Composers Orchestra. His most extensive collaboration in recent years has been with the Frankfurt Radio HR Big Band. During his tenure he has arranged music for and conducted projects with jazz artists such as Robben Ford, Theo Bleckmann, China Moses, and Fay Claassen.