The WDR Big Band has a long tradition. It came out out of the 1946-founded "NWDR Tanz- und Unterhaltungsorchester". As a result of continuous collaboration with high-class guest musicians, conductors and arrangers starting from center of the 60's, the band has gained a world wide fame. The band won 3 Grammys. The first one in 2007 for the album Some Skunk Funk together with Randy Brecker and Michael Brecker. In 2008 number two and three were added. One for the Best jazz Vocal album with Patti Austin and the other one for the arrangement for A Silent Way by Vince Mendoza. Band leader Since 2003 the New York based composer, arranger, piano-player and producer Michael Abene is leading the band. Before him the following band leaders led the band: Otto Gerdes (1946–1947) Adalbert Luczkowski (1947–1967) Kurt Edelhagen (1957–1972) Werner Müller (1967–?) Jerry van Rooyen (1985–1995) Bill Dobbins (1995-2002) The lineup: Trumpets Andy Haderer Rob Bruynen Klaus Osterloh John Marshall Wim Both Trombones Ludwig Nuss Marshall Gilkes Mattis Cederberg Saxophones Johan Hörlen Karolina Strassmayer Olivier Peters Paul Heller Jens Neufang Rhythm section Frank Chastenier p, kb, org John Goldsby b Paul Shigihara g Hans Dekker dr Former musicians Heiner Wiberny sax Dave Horler tb Paul Peuker sax Roy Deuvall tb Rolf Römer sax Rick Kiefer tp Bernt Laukamp tb Jon Eardley tp Harald Rosenstein sax Wolf Schenk tb Official website: http://www.wdr.de/radio/orchester/bigband/index.html <a href="https://www.last.fm/music/WDR+Big+Band">Read more on Last.fm</a>. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.