The hr-Bigband is the big band of Hessischer Rundfunk, the public broadcasting network of the German state of Hesse. 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 ...

(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 19 ...

(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, Ém ...

, 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 Trio & hr-Bigband (unter der Leitung von Ed Partyka; ausgezeichnet mit dem Echo Jazz 2012) :''It's Only Love - Tania Maria 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 pianist, composer, and leader of his eponymous jazz orchestra from 1923 through the rest of his life. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Ellington was based ...

s '' Money Jungle'' durch Jörg Achim Keller; Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik) :''Viva o Som! - The Music of Hermeto Pascoal'', arrangiert von

Steffen Schorn Steffen Schorn (born 26 September 1967 in Aalen) is a Jazz music in Germany, German jazz musician (saxophone and other Woodwind instruments, Musical composition, composition). He is one of the most outstanding musicians and composers of German ja ...

:''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), America ...

, 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 *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 People with the name * Jonas (name), people with the given name or surname Jonas * Jonas, one of ...

:''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 (Bass, Vocals, Guitar, Piano, Composition) *2006 :''Meeting of the Spirits - A Celebration of the Mahavishnu Orchestra'', feat. Billy Cobham (Drums), arranged + directed by Colin Towns :''Once in a Lifetime'', feat. Joey DeFrancesco (Hammond Organ), Jeff Hamilton (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 founded in 1971 in New York by Walter Becker (guitars, bass, backing vocals) and Donald Fagen (keyboards, lead vocals). Initially the band had a stable lineup, but in 1974, Becker and Fagen retired from live ...

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

Martin Fondse Martin Fondse (February 20, 1967, Bergen Op Zoom) is a Dutch pianist and composer. He also plays the vibrandoneon, the baroque version of the melodica. He is a composer and arranger in the fields of jazz and contemporary music and he leads the Mar ...

(Ltg.) :''Scorched'' ( Mark-Anthony Turnage) mit John Scofield, John Patitucci, Peter Erskine, Radio-Sinfonie-Orchester Frankfurt unter Hugh Wolff (Ltg.) :''¡Libertango! - Hommage an Astor Piazzolla'', Enrique Tellería ( Bandoneon), Fred Sturm (Arr.), Jörg Achim Keller (Ltg.) *2002 :''Swinging Christmas'', Marjorie Barnes (Voc.),

Frits Landesbergen Frits Landesbergen (born 1961 in Voorschoten) is a Dutch jazz drummer and vibraphonist. Private life Since about 2003 he has been in a relationship with Joke Bruijs Joke Bruijs (born 14 January 1952) is a Kingdom of the Netherlands, Dutch actre ...

(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, Rolf Kühn, Eddie Daniels (Klarinette), Kurt Bong (Ltg.) :''Futter für die Seele'', Jazzkantine,

Laith Al-Deen Laith Al-Deen, born 20 February 1972 in Karlsruhe, West Germany, is an Iraqis, Iraqi German language pop musician. Biography and Career Born of an Iraqi father and German mother, Laith grew up in the United States and Mannheim, West Germany. He a ...

, 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