Wolfgang Niedecken Wdr Big Band — Small Group Sessions — Incentive

Wolfgang Niedecken (born 30 March 1951 in Cologne) is a German musician and painter.

The WDR Big Band consists of 17 soloists who usually develop an extraordinary sound together in studio and concert productions. In this new series we present the individual musicians in small formations called "WDR BIG BAND - SMALL GROUP SESSIONS": their own compositions are played in duos, trios or quartets. Karolina Strassmayer (alto saxophone, composition) and Billy Test (piano) play the piece "Quiet Fortitude". Karolina says of her composition: "Quiet Bravery is a recognition of the people who consistently work to make their part of the world a little brighter and better, to give the rest of us a soft landing when we need it. You know who is meant."

The WDR Big Band is often referred to as the "band of soloists", as each member can also impress as a soloist and is also convincing in small groups. This is one of the reasons why the new series "WDR Big Band Small Groups" was recently launched, in which the musicians can present themselves in different constellations. In summer 2020, bassist John Goldsby joined forces with Hans Dekker (drums) and Billy Test (piano) to form a trio that is well-rehearsed, as they work together (almost) every day in an orchestral context.

With "Ariabesques," Bill Dobbins and the WDR Big Band have brought Johann Sebastian Bach"s "Goldberg Variations" to life once again. Originally composed for the two-manual harpsichord, Dobbins has managed to create an impressive version for big band by swapping repetitive notes with short rests.

Two stars of international jazz, an amazing orchestra, a truly fresh repertoire and outstanding arrangements developed for a unique event to take place: the meeting of Antonio Sanchez on drums, Vince Mendoza as conductor and arranger and the WDR Big Band. Two invaluable CDs packed with everything you may dream)when you are about to listen to such a stellar Big Band that is conducted by a genius like Mendoza and plays music by an undisputed giant like Sanchez.

End of August of 2020 the international world of jazz was celebrating “100 Years Charlie Parker”. Even those who had not noticed it before now realized that a great musician was being commemorated. Despite the COVID 19 pandemic his work and life were honoured with several projects: these included exclusive LP-editions, books and – obviously – concerts.

For the past several years, former Yellowjackets bassist and prolific producer Jimmy Haslip has enjoyed an ongoing working relationship with the Bremen, Germany-based jazz fusion keyboardist and composer Michael Schmidt (aka MSM Schmidt). While Haslip played on Schmidt’s 2007 album Transit and 2009’s Destination, he ended up co-producing 2012’s Evolution, 2015’s Utopia and 2017’s Life. They take their chemistry to new heights on ARCeology: The Music of MSM Schmidt. This dynamic offering finds Haslip and members of his ARC Trio (keyboardist Scott Kinsey and Hungarian drummer Gergö Borlai) joining forces with the GRAMMY Award-winning John Daversa Big Band on greatly expanded versions of previously recorded Schmidt material, along with two brand new pieces composed by Kinsey and Schmidt. The result is a powerhouse collection of polished, swaggering big band fusion along the lines of the Jaco Pastorius Big Band or The Brecker Brothers’ 2003 collaboration with the WDR Big Band Köln on Some Skunk Funk.

Singer Fay Claassen and trumpeter/composer Jakob Helling first met in summer 2022 for concerts and recordings with the "Jakob Helling Concert Big Band". Now this delightful encounter continues with slightly fewer musicians on stage: the two have a fantastic band in tow, featuring Matthew Halpin (sax), Mátyás Bartha (piano), Ivar Roban Križić (bass) and Mario Gonzi (drums), some of the most exciting musicians in the German-speaking world. The programme ranges from some pieces from the brand new album "Nerds & Sweeties" by the "Jakob Helling Concert Big Band" to arrangements from the Great American Songbook, which Helling has breathed new life into, to the musicians' own compositions.