WDR Big Band

I am just listening to a concert of the WDR Big Band on the radio. since I am a regular listener of the radio channel WDR 3 and their big band is arguably the best big band in the world, I listen to many concerts of them throughout the year (around 20). they always have one or two, sometimes three, guest soloists (the concert I am just listening to is a Django Reinhard tribute with Bireli Lagrene taking the part of Django), although every member of the WDR big-band is an excellent soloist in his own right. the list of artists they have played is VERY long, they are standing in a queue to play with this great big band. this is not really prog, it is jazz, although it is often very close to fusion, and soetimes the line is crossed. but truely excellent music. they'll be giving a concert with the Joe Zawinul Project next mont, and the month after they will give a concert with tenor saxophonist Joe Lovano. the list of guests they have played with (http://www.wdr.de/radio/orchester/big_band/de/gaeste/ ) is 3 pages long and very impressive; Friede and I once saw them in a concert with the classical piano duo Katja and Marielle Labeque (who are arguably the best piano duo in the world and also have a jazzy side, especially Katja, who used to be keyboarder in one of the bands of John Mc Laughlin), playing a George Gershwin tribute, and it was fantastic. the Labeque sisters ruled, especially when they played a special version of "Rhapsody in Blue" for 2 pianos and jazz orchestra, and the WDR Big Band supported them excellently (of ourse some members of them played the odd solo too).
Bireli is doing a good job replacing Django, by the way


Edited by BaldJean

they made a few CDs, I can look them up for you