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 has been written hr-Bigband. For international tours and CD releases it is also named Frankfurt Radio Bigband.
In its first decades, it mainly provided 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 (1946–1972) Heinz Schönberger (1972–1989) Kurt Bong (1989–2000) Jörg Achim Keller (2000–2008) Örjan Fahlström (2008–2011) Jim McNeely (2011–present)Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, 28. Juni 2011
Discography 2013 Wunderkammer XXL - Michael Wollny, 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 & 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's Money Jungle durch Jörg Achim Keller; Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik) Viva o Som! - The Music of Hermeto Pascoal, arrangiert von Steffen Schorn A Single Sky, composed Dave Douglas, conducted and arranged Jim McNeely, with Christian Jaksjø Visions of Miles, arranged Colin Towns
2008 music for bigband vol. 1, featuring Jonas Schoen 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 und Brent Fisher
2004 Do It Again - Three Decades of Steely Dan, Fred Sturm (Ltg.), Ryan Ferreira (Git.)
2003 Two Suites: Tribal Dances / Cottacatya, Ralf Schmid, Martin Fondse (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 (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, Rolf Stahlhofen, Edo Zanki
References
External links
hr-Bigband official website English information hr-Bigband YouTube channel