Recommendations for the WDR Big Band

[Rabshakeh]

It seems like the WDR Big Band has been around for a while and a lot of people enjoy records featuring guest stars playing with it.

I'd be interested to know whether anyone has any favourites.

[Dan Gould]

If you enjoy Joe Williams' singing this one is fine:

https://www.discogs.com/release/19562413-WDR-Big-Band-Köln-feat-Joe-Williams-Milt-Jackson-w-Cedar-Walton-John-Clayton-Jeff-Hamilton-Blues-Be

[Niko]

Heard them a lot as a kid growing up in Cologne where they had a weekly radio show... Can't say that I grew into a fan but one album I remember liking is this one with Charlie Mariano and a fusion of jazz and Indian music

https://www.discogs.com/release/4008349-WDR-Big-Band-Köln-Charlie-Mariano-Karnataka-College-Of-Percussion-Mike-Herting-Sketches-Of-Bangalor

but I may be biased since I was in the audience that day... They have regular programs which they play for the radio and in concerts in the region, only some of which make it into albums ... This week it's probably carnival music, but in other weeks they have quite nice and diverse projects

 

[HutchFan]

One that I'd recommend:

[mr jazz]

the Lew Tabackin release is excellent. 

[Peter Friedman]

I like this album a lot. 

[optatio]

 

[Rabshakeh]

4 hours ago, mr jazz said:

the Lew Tabackin release is excellent. 

I weirdly can't locate this one on discogs or Google. 

[mr jazz]

18 hours ago, Rabshakeh said:

I weirdly can't locate this one on discogs or Google. 

Sorry, see https://www.allmusic.com/album/pyramid-mw0000667776 It was with the Netherlands Metropole Orchestra.

Edited 5 hours ago by mr jazz

[Rabshakeh]

41 minutes ago, mr jazz said:

Sorry, see https://www.allmusic.com/album/pyramid-mw0000667776 It was with the Netherlands Metropole Orchestra.

Ah. Okay thanks. I actually know that one. A good'un.

[jazzcorner]

On 2/12/2026 at 12:51 PM, Rabshakeh said:

It seems like the WDR Big Band has been around for a while and a lot of people enjoy records featuring guest stars playing with it.

I'd be interested to know whether anyone has any favourites.

The WDR Big Band is one of the top european big band . Its a radion employed orchestra and has good financial sources for the members.

Have followed the  weekly radio broadcasts  from the early 1980s on and have about several hundred files from their FM radio concerts with great US and european soloists.

The band  had no regular drummer during the 1980s so  there was a regular collaboration  for example with Mel Lews (he is quoted: the WDR BB is my second orchestra).

In addition Bill Holman preferred to  present his own compositions and suites the first time for an public auditorium here in Cologne at various places rather than in the US. Many famous US stars were featured  in these public concerts.

Also the leaders for  these public concerts changed very often. Bill Holman was one of them.

Radio WDR had offered a software "radiorecorder" for the fans of the band to record these  events for free and private use (burn your own CDrs, what i did also.

Here is an example :

https://up.picr.de/50579005at.jpg

 

 

 

Edited 1 hour ago by jazzcorner