WDR Big Band plays H.A.M. - The Music of Dave Horler, Michael Abene, Jim McNeely

In the organizer's words:

The WDR Big Band is back at domicil! The world-renowned and Grammy-award-winning ensemble can rarely be experienced much closer and more directly than at domicil.

On this evening, under the direction of Jochen Neuffer, the Big Band pays tribute to three musicians, composers and arrangers who have been associated with the Big Band for a long time:

British trombonist Dave Horler, for example, joined the formation, then known as the WDR Tanzorchester, back in 1980 and played an active part until 1980, both as a musician and as a conductor. Michale Abene from Brooklyn (New York) was the chief conductor of the big band from 2004 to 2014, during which time it won two Grammy awards (with Michael Brecker and Patti Austin) and was nominated for another. Pianist Jim McNeely is also American, played with Chet Baker and from 1978 in the famous Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, among others, and subsequently worked regularly as an arranger for the WDR Big Band and as the permanent leader of the hr Big Band.

The compilation promises a varied and definitely top-class big band jazz evening!