DR Big Band
The DR Big Band (also Danish Radio Big Band ) is the big band of Danmarks Radio ( DR). It originated from the founded in 1964 with the new radio dance orchestra of DR
Start time
The ensemble was founded on the initiative of entertainment chiefs Niels- Jørgen Kaiser first played only music for the radio and use was conducted from 1964 to 1968 by Ib Glindemann. Core of the group was initially founded in 1961, Radio Jazz Group or Danish Radio Jazz Group, which was led by Erik Moseholm since 1962 and have been committed to the ten of the best Danish musicians and arrangers. These included Allan Botschinsky, Palle Mikkel Borg, Torolf Mølgaard, Poul Hindberg, Bent Jædig, Ray Pitts and Bent Axen. To this Radio Jazz Group, which has also been invited to perform as the Jazz Jamboree in Warsaw or to Flensburg, a large formation was established. Today it includes 19 musicians. The musicians were Erling Kroner, Niels -Henning Ørsted Pedersen and Jesper Thilo ( 1966-1989 ). In the 1960s and 1970s a number of American jazz musicians such as Idrees Sulieman were native to Denmark and became a member of the band.
After Glindemann the band had first guest conductors such as Oliver Nelson, Frank Foster, Jimmy Heath, Clark Terry, Mary Lou Williams, Michael Gibbs, Robert Cornford or Mike Westbrook before the Orchestra with Ray Pitts (1971-1973) again had a solid conductor.
Time under Palle Mikkel Borg and Thad Jones
In 1975 Palle Mikkel Borg ( 1975-1977 ) and then Thad Jones ( 1977-1978) as director. In particular, Jones coined the orchestra in a way, " which is heard and felt to this day. " In this time they played with guest soloists such as Stan Getz and Joe Henderson.
Conversion to the Big Band and new tasks
With the breaking away of the public radio monopoly of sound body received new tasks; the Big Band played now also increasingly albums one. The orchestra was conducted by Ole Kock Hansen since 1986 and then by Bob Brookmeyer (1996-1998 ) and Jim McNeely (1998-2002). Currently it redirects Chris Minh Doky.
At the recording of the album Aura of Miles Davis ( 1985) he and Mikkel Borg involved many musicians in the lineup. Emerged in recent years albums with soloists such as Randy Brecker, Chris Potter and the Mike Stern, but also Christmas albums. Furthermore, the band participated increasingly in television productions such as the talent show X-Factor or productions with the children's channel of television, so that the band is now known to the general public.