Kurt Edelhagen & His Orchestra The Unreleased WDR Jazz Recordings 1957 - 1974 (3-CD)

(Jazzline Classics) 40 tracks

Jazzline presents the previously unreleased WDR recordings of the German jazz bandleader, who would have turned 100 last year. Triple CD (40 songs) in multipack with 36-page booklet, triple LP (29 songs) in three-piece gatefold cover (180 gram vinyl, printed inner sleeves). This is nothing less than a sensation! For the first time, the previously unreleased jazz recordings of the legendary German bandleader Kurt Edelhagen with his orchestra, recorded between 1957 and 1974 in the studios of the WDR, are here released to the inclined audience sound-technically prepared and provided with detailed liner notes on CD and vinyl.

Kurt Edelhagen, who was also responsible for many commercial recordings up to hit productions, shows here with his orchestra that these recordings are seamlessly in a row with the releases of the 'big' jazz big bands of the time. The evolution of the orchestra is generously chronicled on this lovingly curated work, from the swinging 1957 ensemble to the experimental band of 1974.

The names of the contributing soloists alone speak for themselves here: MAYNARD FERGUSON, MARK MURPHY, PHILLY JOE JONES, TOOTS THIELEMANS, ALBERT MANGELSDORFF, BENNY BAILEY, JIGGS WHIGHAM, to name a few. An absolute jazz must have! JAZZLINE presents the previously unreleased WDR recordings of the German jazz bandleader, who would have turned 100 last year.

Triple CD (40 songs) in multipack with 36-page booklet, triple LP (29 songs) in three-piece gatefold cover (180 gram vinyl, printed inner sleeves). This is nothing less than a sensation! For the first time, the previously unreleased jazz recordings of the legendary German bandleader Kurt Edelhagen with his orchestra, recorded between 1957 and 1974 in the studios of the WDR, are here released to the inclined audience sound-technically prepared and provided with detailed liner notes on CD and vinyl. Kurt Edelhagen, who was also responsible for many commercial recordings up to hit productions, shows here with his orchestra that these recordings are seamlessly in a row with the releases of the 'big' jazz big bands of the time. The evolution of the orchestra is generously chronicled on this lovingly curated work, from the swinging 1957 ensemble to the experimental band of 1974. The names of the contributing soloists alone speak for themselves here: MAYNARD FERGUSON, MARK MURPHY, PHILLY JOE JONES, TOOTS THIELEMANS, ALBERT MANGELSDORFF, BENNY BAILEY, JIGGS WHIGHAM, to name a few. An absolute jazz must have!

Mit seiner Bigband zählt Kurt Edelhagen wieder zu den Top-Orchestern Deutschlands. Wieder, weil sein früherer Erfolg durch eine lange und schwere Krankheit unterbrochen wurde. Mit seiner großen Bearbeitung der Anfangsmelodien zu den Olympischen Spielen 1974 in München zeigte Kurt Edelhagen, daß er wieder voll da ist. Seine Musik geht eher in Richtung Jazz, als in Richtung Kommerzielles. So kommen auch seine Musiker größtenteils aus dem Jazzlager. Kurt Edelhagen macht keine reine Tanzmusik, deshalb ist er in der breiten Öffentlichkeit nicht ganz so geschätzt wie zum Beispiel James Last. Doch Kurt Edelhagen ist heute eine Wertmarke, ein Gütesiegel, daß allein auf Qualität, nicht auf Publicity fußt. Original Presse-Info: Deutsche Grammophon GmbH