The hr-Bigband is the

big band A big band or jazz orchestra is a type of musical ensemble of jazz music that usually consists of ten or more musicians with four sections: saxophones, trumpets, trombones, and a rhythm section. Big bands originated during the early 1910s and ...

Hessischer Rundfunk (; "Hesse Broadcasting"), shortened to HR (; stylized as hr), is the German state of Hesse's public broadcasting corporation. Headquartered in Frankfurt, it is a member of the national consortium of German public broadcasting corporations, A ...

, the public broadcasting network of the German state of

Hesse Hesse or Hessen ( ), officially the State of Hesse (), is a States of Germany, state in Germany. Its capital city is Wiesbaden, and the largest urban area is Frankfurt, which is also the country's principal financial centre. Two other major hist ...

. Founded 1946 as Tanz- und Unterhaltungsorchester des Hessischen Rundfunks it was renamed to hr Big Band in 1972. Since 2005 it is written hr-Bigband. For international tours and CD releases it is also named Frankfurt Radio Bigband. In the first decades mainly used to provide popular music for radio and TV shows it changed into a Jazz Big Band in the 1970s. The hr-Bigband plays approximately 50 concerts a year, covering a wide range of jazz styles and also crossing the boundaries to pop, classical, world and electronic music. After three years as artist in residence Jim McNeely became chief conductor in 2011.

Chief conductors

Willy Berking Willy Berking (22 June 1910 – 21 May 1979) was a German orchestra conductor, trombonist, and composer. Career Berking studied music (piano and composition) in Düsseldorf and then in Berlin, where he formed his first big band at the age of 18 ...

(1946–1972) * Heinz Schönberger (1972–1989) * Kurt Bong (1989–2000) * Jörg Achim Keller (2000–2008) * Örjan Fahlström (2008–2011) *

Jim McNeely Jim McNeely (born May 18, 1949) is a jazz pianist, composer, arranger and faculty. Biography Jim McNeely was born in Chicago, Illinois. He earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Illinois, and moved to New York City in 1975. ...

(2011–present)Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
28. Juni 2011

Discography

*2013 :''Wunderkammer XXL'' -

Michael Wollny Michael Wollny (born 25 May 1978) is a German jazz pianist and a professor at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Leipzig. He has played with international musicians including Joachim Kühn, Tamar Halperin, Marius Neset, Andreas Schaerer, Émil ...

, Tamar Halperin & hr-Bigband; Ltg.:Jörg Achim Keller :''Rise & Arrive'' - Christian Elsässer & hr-Bigband *2012 :''Songs I Like a Lot'' - John Hollenbeck, Kate McGerry,

Theo Bleckmann Theodor Raoul Bleckmann (born 28 May 1966) is a German singer and composer. Biography Bleckmann was born in Dortmund, West Germany. He planned to be an ice skater before becoming a vocalist. In 1989 he moved to New York City and recorded his ...

& hr-Bigband :''composed & arranged'' - Oliver Leicht & hr-Bigband *2010 :''Out of the Desert Live at Jazzfest Berlin'' -

Joachim Kühn Joachim Kurt Kühn (born 15 March 1944) is a German jazz pianist. Biography Kühn was born in Leipzig, Germany. He was a musical prodigy and made his debut as a concert pianist, having studied classical piano and composition, with Arthur Schmidt-E ...

Trio & hr-Bigband (unter der Leitung von Ed Partyka; ausgezeichnet mit dem

Echo Jazz The Echo Jazz (stylized as ECHO JAZZ) was a German music prize, an Echo Music Prize for personalities and production of jazz. It was awarded annually by the between 2010 and 2018. The awards had been given in 30 categories, including ensemble of ...

2012) :''It's Only Love -

Tania Maria Tania Maria (born May 9, 1948) is a Brazilian artist, singer, composer, bandleader and piano player, singing mostly in Portuguese or English. Her Brazilian-style music is mostly vocal, sometimes pop, often jazzy, and includes samba, bossa, Afro- ...

und die hr-Bigband live'' (geleitet von Jörg Achim Keller) *2009 :''Money Jungle – Ellington reorchestrated'' (Neubearbeitung von

Duke Ellington Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) was an American Jazz piano, jazz pianist, composer, and leader of his eponymous Big band, jazz orchestra from 1924 through the rest of his life. Born and raised in Washington, D ...

s '' Money Jungle'' durch Jörg Achim Keller;

Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik Preis is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Alfred Preis (1911–1993), Austrian architect * Ellen Preis (Ellen Müller-Preis) (1912–2007), German-born Austrian Olympic champion foil fencer * Mary Louise Preis (born 1941), ...

) :''Viva o Som! - The Music of

Hermeto Pascoal Hermeto Pascoal (born June 22, 1936) is a Brazilian composer and multi-instrumentalist. He was born in Lagoa da Canoa, Alagoas, Brazil. Pascoal is best known in music of Brazil, Brazilian music for his orchestration and improvisation, as well as ...

'', arrangiert von

Steffen Schorn Steffen Schorn (born 26 September 1967 in Aalen) is a German jazz musician (saxophone and other woodwind instruments, composition). He is one of the most outstanding musicians and composers of German jazz and contemporary music. He is also the d ...

:''A Single Sky'', composed

Dave Douglas David or Dave Douglas may refer to: Entertainment * David Douglas (director) (born 1953), Canadian cinematographer, director and writer * Dave Douglas (trumpeter) (born 1963), American jazz trumpeter * Dave Douglas (drummer) (born 1979), American ...

, conducted and arranged

, with

Christian Jaksjø Christian Jaksjø (born 18 December 1973 in Oslo, Norway) is a Norwegian jazz musician (trombone and euphonium) and composer, mostly jazz where he since 1999 has been part of Bob Brookmeyer «New Art Orchestra» releasing the album ''New Works'' ...

:''Visions of Miles'', arranged

Colin Towns Colin William Towns (born 13 May 1948) is an English composer and keyboardist. He was noted for playing in bands formed by ex-Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan, and later worked extensively in composing soundtracks for film, television and commercial ...

*2008 :''music for bigband vol. 1'', featuring

Jonas Schoen Jonas may refer to: Geography * Jonas, Netherlands, Netherlands * Jonas, Pennsylvania, United States * Jonas Ridge, North Carolina, United States Arts, entertainment, and media * Jonas Brothers, American pop rock band. ** ''Jonas'' (TV serie ...

:''Limbic System Files'', featuring nuBox, DJ Illvibe and Ed Partyka (Arranging, Conducting) *2007 :''hr-Bigband feat. Jack Bruce - arranged and conducted by Jörg Achim Keller'', feat.

Jack Bruce John Symon Asher Bruce (14 May 1943 – 25 October 2014) was a Scottish musician. He gained popularity as the primary lead vocalist and ‍bassist ‍of Rock music, rock band Cream (band), Cream. After the group disbanded in 1968, he pursued a ...

(Bass, Vocals, Guitar, Piano, Composition) *2006 :''Meeting of the Spirits - A Celebration of the Mahavishnu Orchestra'', feat.

Billy Cobham William Emanuel Cobham Jr. (born May 16, 1944) is a Panamanian–American jazz drummer who came to prominence in the late 1960s and early 1970s with trumpeter Miles Davis and then with the Mahavishnu Orchestra. He was inducted into the '' Mode ...

(Drums), arranged + directed by Colin Towns :''Once in a Lifetime'', feat.

Joey DeFrancesco Joey DeFrancesco (April 10, 1971August 25, 2022) was an American jazz organist, trumpeter, saxophonist, and occasional singer. He released more than 30 albums under his own name, and recorded extensively as a sideman with such leading jazz perfo ...

(Hammond Organ),

Jeff Hamilton Jeff Hamilton is the name of: *Jeff Hamilton (1840–1941), enslaved man and free servant of the Houston family. See Sam Houston and slavery § Jeff Hamilton *Jeff Hamilton (drummer) (born 1953), jazz drummer *Jeff Hamilton (baseball) Jeffrey Ro ...

(Drums), Jörg Achim Keller (Ltg.) :''Here's to Life, Here's To Joe'', Jörg Achim Keller (Ltg.), Bill Ramsey (voc.) *2005 :''Pictures at an Exhibition / Echoes of Aranjuez'', Jörg Achim Keller, Bill Holman (Ltg.),

Clare Clare may refer to: Places Antarctica * Clare Range, a mountain range in Victoria Land Australia * Clare, South Australia, a town in the Clare Valley * Clare Valley, South Australia Canada * Clare (electoral district), an electoral district * Cl ...

und Brent Fisher *2004 :''Do It Again - Three Decades of

Steely Dan Steely Dan is an American rock band formed in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, in 1971 by Walter Becker (guitars, bass, backing vocals) and Donald Fagen (keyboards, lead vocals). Originally having a traditional band lineup, Becker and Fagen cho ...

'', Fred Sturm (Ltg.), Ryan Ferreira (Git.) *2003 :''Two Suites: Tribal Dances / Cottacatya'', Ralf Schmid, Martin Fondse (Ltg.) :''Scorched'' (

Mark-Anthony Turnage Mark-Anthony Turnage (born 10 June 1960) is an English composer of contemporary classical music. Life and career Mark-Anthony Turnage was born in Corringham, Essex on 10 June 1960. Turnage was the eldest of three children. His parents were lov ...

) mit

John Scofield John Scofield (born December 26, 1951) is an American guitarist and composer. His music over a long career has blended jazz, jazz fusion, funk, blues, soul and rock. He first came to mainstream attention as part of the band of Miles Davis; he ...

John Patitucci John Patitucci (born December 22, 1959) is an American jazz bassist and composer. Biography John James Patitucci was born in Brooklyn, New York. He began playing the electric bass at age 10, performing and composing at age 12, and at age 15, s ...

Peter Erskine Peter Clark Erskine (born June 5, 1954) is an American jazz drummer who was a member of the jazz fusion groups Weather Report and Steps Ahead. Early life and education Erskine was born in Somers Point, New Jersey, U.S. He began playing the d ...

, Radio-Sinfonie-Orchester Frankfurt unter

Hugh Wolff Hugh MacPherson Wolff (born October 21, 1953, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France) is an American conductor. He was chief conductor of the Frankfurt Radio Symphony. Biography Born in France while his father was serving in the U.S. Foreign Service, Wolff s ...

(Ltg.) :''¡Libertango! - Hommage an

Astor Piazzolla Astor Pantaleón Piazzolla (, ; March 11, 1921 – July 4, 1992) was an Argentine tango composer, bandoneon player, and arranger. His works revolutionized the traditional tango into a new style termed '' nuevo tango'', incorporating elements fr ...

'', Enrique Tellería (

Bandoneon The bandoneon () or bandonion is a type of concertina particularly popular in Argentina and Uruguay. It is a typical instrument in most tango ensembles. As with other members of the concertina family, it is held between the hands, and played ...

), Fred Sturm (Arr.), Jörg Achim Keller (Ltg.) *2002 :''Swinging Christmas'', Marjorie Barnes (Voc.), Frits Landesbergen (Vibraphon), Jörg Achim Keller (Ltg.) *2001 :''American Songs of Kurt Weill'', Silvia Droste, Jeff Cascaro (Voc.), Jörg Achim Keller (Ltg.) :''The Three Sopranos'',

Buddy DeFranco Boniface Ferdinand Leonard "Buddy" DeFranco (February 17, 1923 – December 24, 2014) was an American jazz clarinetist. In addition to his work as a bandleader, DeFranco led the Glenn Miller Orchestra for almost a decade in the 1960s and 1970s. ...

, Rolf Kühn,

Eddie Daniels Eddie Daniels (born October 19, 1941) is an American musician and composer. Although he is best known as a jazz clarinetist, he has also played saxophone and flute as well as classical music on clarinet. Early life, family and education Daniel ...

(Klarinette), Kurt Bong (Ltg.) :''Futter für die Seele'', Jazzkantine, Laith Al-Deen, Rolf Stahlhofen, Edo Zanki

References

External links

hr-Bigband official website

hr-Bigband official website english information

hr-Bigband YouTube channel
{{Authority control Musical groups established in 1946 German jazz ensembles Hessischer Rundfunk German radio orchestras Big bands