Hr-Bigband

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

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 Ellingtons 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