WDR Big Band feat. Bill Holman, Al Cohn, Sal Nistico & Mel Lewis - Cologne 1987

And one more... luckily, a few German radio stations still maintain their big bands, and while they have to play for (some) bread in between, plenty of fascinating and often mighty fine projects result from their collaborations with various soloists, composers and arrangers.

This post features the the WDR Big Band, which goes back to 1946. From 1957 to 1972 it was led by Kurt Edelhagen, later directors included Jerry van Rooyen and Bill Dobbins. Their recent discography includes projects with Abdullah Ibrahim, Joe Lovano, Hiram Bullock, Maceo Parker, Joe Zawinul, Gianluigi Trovesi, Eddie Harris and Pacquito d'Rivera. They also did projects dedicated to the music of Erik Satie, Kurt Weill, worked with George Gruntz and many others.

Here, you hear them with frequent collaborator Mel Lewis on drums and a great trio of tenor sax players: Al Cohn, Sal Nistico and arranger/leader Bill Holman! Hidden in the band, you'll find a few more interesting names, such as Jon Eardley. Also note Heiner Wiberny's fine soprano solo - these guys can play great jazz when it's called for, and I guess that's where there heart is anyway!



WDR Big Band & Bill Holman: Tenor Reunion
Köln (Germany), Stadtgarten
June 12, 1987 (MP2)

Bill Holman - tenor sax, leader, arranger
Al Cohn - tenor sax
Sal Nistico - tenor sax
Mel Lewis - drums

WDR Big Band, incl.
Klaus Osterloh, Jon Eardley, Rick Kiefer - trumpet
Dave Horler, Henning Berg - trombone
Heiner Wiberny - alto & soprano sax
Harald Rosenstein - alto sax
Rolf Römer, Olivier Peters - tenor sax
Paul Peucker - baritone sax
Bora Rokovic - piano
Jean Warland - bass

1. Pilgrim's Pride (Bill Holman) 11:47 [HB,tb;HW,ss;ML,d]
2. Bill Holman's comments (1:52)
3. Good Bait (Tadd Dameron/Count Basie) > Ann BH (8:09) [AC/SN/BH,ts]
4. Woody'n You (Dizzy Gillespie) > Ann BH (6:30) [AC,ts]
5. High On You (Al Cohn) 5:41 [AC/SN,ts]
6. Autumn Leaves (Kosma-Prevert-Mercer) > Ann BH (7:42) [AC/SN,ts]
7. Love For Sale (Cole Porter) 8:55 [AC/SN/BH,ts]
8. Moon Of Manacora (4:34) [inc, beginning missing]

TT: 55:13

Sound: A
Source: DVB-S@320, 48kHz > raw data > ProjextX > mp3DirectCut > mp2
(lossy recording seeded in its original broadcast codec)