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About WDR Big Band

Results for pages tagged "WDR big band"...

Musician

The WDR Big Band, based in Cologne, Germany, is widely considered one of Europe's premier, full-time professional jazz ensembles. Formed in 1946 and evolving into a dedicated jazz big band in 1980, the ensemble is renowned for its razor-sharp precision, versatility, and broad stylistic range, covering everything from classic swing to modern, fusion, and world music. As the big band for the German public broadcaster Westdeutscher Rundfunk, its mission is to promote jazz culture, and it achieves this through an extensive catalog of recordings and frequent collaborations with legendary international jazz artists, including Vince Mendoza, Ron Carter, and the Brecker Brothers. This collaborative work has earned the band multiple prestigious awards, including several Grammy Awards. The WDR Big Band is a flexible and technically brilliant institution that honors the jazz tradition while actively commissioning new music and shaping the future of large-ensemble performance.

Album

In the Brass Palace

By Kurt Elling

Label: Big Shoulders
Released: 2026

Article: Building a Jazz Library

Ronnie Cuber: Baritone Boss

by Mark McKergow
September 14, 2026

Ronnie Cuber (1941-2022) made his mark on the jazz world as a versatile and muscular baritone saxophonist. Born in New York on Christmas Day 1941, he started on tenor saxophone but switched to baritone at 17, attracted by the vacant chair in Marshall Brown's Newport Jazz Youth Band (which also featured lifelong colleagues Eddie Gomez and Michael ...

Article: Radio & Podcasts

Elsa Nilsson, Miles Okazaki, and Andrew Cyrille

by Jerome Wilson
September 9, 2026

This program features recent music by Elsa Nilsson and Miles Okazaki and older work by Terje Rypdal and Andrew Cyrille.Playlist Henry Threadgill Sextett “I Can't Wait Till I Get Home" from The Complete Novus & Columbia Recordings of Henry Threadgill & Air (Mosaic) 00:00 Tom Ollendorff “Meaningless Mirror" from Where in the World (Fresh ...

Article: Radio & Podcasts

Yoron Israel, Haruna Fukazawa, Somi, Jim Donica, Visions Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Leos Abbey Lincoln, Dorothy Ashby & More

by Mary Foster Conklin
August 17, 2026

This broadcast includes new music from Yoron Israel, Haruna Fukazawa, Somi, Jim Donica, Visions Jazz Ensemble, plus birthday shoutouts to Abbey Lincoln, Dorothy Ashby, Jeri Southern (100!), Baby Jane Dexter, Terri Lyne Carrington, Jenny Klukken, Linda Dachtyl, Kat Edmonson, Regina Carter and Honorable Man Louis Armstrong, among others. Happy listening and please support the artists you ...

Article: Radio & Podcasts

Happy Birthday Marcus Roberts! Also Tony Bennett, Allan Holdsworth, and more

by David W. Daniels
August 11, 2026

In addition to the artists named in the title, this edition of Exploration recognizes the classic genius of The Quintet (Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Bud Powell, Charlie Mingus, and Max Roach), Horace Silver, and others. More new music from Joe Alterman, Doug Webb, and Terri Lyne Carrington. Birthdays recognized include Eddie Jefferson, Ravi Coltrane, and “Pops" ...

Article: Radio & Podcasts

John Pizzarelli, Shuteen Erdenebaatar & Nils Kugelmann, Nicola Miller, Ayn Inserto, Jazz Sinfonico Mexicano, Stella Cole & More

by Mary Foster Conklin
August 10, 2026

This broadcast includes new music from Stella Cole, John Pizzarelli, Shuteen Erdenebaatar & Nils Kugelmann, Nicola Miller, Ayn Inserto, Jazz Sinfonico Mexicano, plus birthday shoutouts to Shamie Royston, Claudia Acuna, Tara Davidson, Nnenna Freelon, Kate Bush and Honorable Men Kevin Mahogany and Hank Jones, among others. Happy listening and please support the artists you hear--see them ...

Article: Radio & Podcasts

New Music From Skúli Sverrisson With Bill Frisell And More

by Bob Osborne
August 6, 2026

This playlist traverses a wide spectrum of sound, moving seamlessly from intimate, reflective duets and delicate chamber-like compositions to the expansive energy of full ensembles and avant-garde explorations. Whether you are looking for moments of quiet introspection, intricate harmonic interplay, or adventurous sonic textures, these tracks represent a vibrant cross-section of today's creative musicians pushing the ...

Article: Radio & Podcasts

Latest music from Joey Alexander + Gaia Wilmer channels Gilberto Gil, SML Live, and Marty Erlich plays Julius Hemphill Compositions

by Hobart Taylor
July 8, 2026

Ayn Inserto's arranging reworks the “Big Band" tradition, Tonino Miano is 21st Century Third Stream, Bob Nell with the Michael Bisio Trio work chromatic wonders.Playlist Host Speaks 00:00 Gaia Wilmer “Parabolicamara (feat. Monica Salmaso)" from Parabolico Volume I (Sunnyside) 00:11 Host Speaks 10:29 Marty Ehrlich “What I Know Now" from Open Air: The Complete ...

Article: Radio & Podcasts

A set of tracks from 10 new big band albums released so far in 2026, including Kurt Elling, John Beasley and 8 others

by George Graham
May 26, 2026

George Graham presents a cross-section of tracks from 10 new Big Band albums released so far during 2026. Playlist Javier Nero “The Fourth Dimension" from Alkebulan (Outside In) 7:28 Ben Markley Big Band “Off Minor" from Tuesday Morning Feeling (OA2) 6:32 Stephen Philip Harvey Jazz Orchestra “Ain't No Sidekick" from Multiversal (Self Released) 5:41 ...