The Sunday Jazz Brunch Presents

Hendrik Meurkens and The WDR Big Band

Air Date: 6/5/2022

When I visited the WDR Big Band's Facebook page recently, I was tickled to see a post from the group asking "Elvin or Tony?" From this alone one could surmise that here we have a big band that draws inspiration from the giants of small combo jazz. Conclusion: This is not your father's big band!  By the way, of the fifty or so responses, I noted one with the correct answer: "Yes!"

Hendrik Meurkens
Internationally-recognized jazz harmonica player Hendrik Meurkens adds big band collaboration to his long list of recordings. “This project is very special to me,” says Mr. Meurkens. “It is everybody’s dream to record with the WDR Big Band, and I was honored to collaborate with them.” 

I must admit a bit of puzzlement upon first hearing about this CD. After all, it is not common to hear samba jazz performed with a big band. But why not? If a song is good, then any decent arrangement will reveal that goodness, whether it calls for a combo or a large ensemble. And the arrangements on the new album Samba Jazz Odyssey, by WDR Conductor Michael Philip Mossman, are superb.

On the next edition of SJB, you'll hear four tracks from the new CD - one during New for You hour and three more during Brazil/World Hour. All are originals and have been performed on earlier recordings by Mr. Meurkens. In fact, these are some of my favorite tunes from those earlier releases.

There are not so many artists carrying on the tradition of Toots Thielemans, and the jazz community is lucky to have this continuity, thanks to Mr. Meurkens and a few others. 

Click here to read more about Mr. Meurkens on this blog and to listen to his prior interview on the Sunday Jazz Brunch.

Thanks again for tuning in.

Marty

HOUR ONE: Contemplative Morning

Jeremy Pelt-The Art Of Intimacy, Vol. 1-09 I'll Never Stop Loving You-2020
Theo Hill-Interstellar Adventures-10 Enchanted Forest 2018
Gabriel Jay Watkins-Selah Pause and Think-02 The Sound of Love 2014
Gregory Porter-All Rise-12 Merry Go Round-2020
Immanuel Wilkins-The 7th Hand 2022-03 Fugitive Ritual, Selah
Jackie Allen-Rose Fingered Dawn-10 Steal The Night 2017
Jackie Ryan-This Heart of Mine-14 Seasons of the Heart 2003
Rosana Eckert-Sailing Home-11 Meant for Me 2019
Brandee Younger-Somewhere Different 2021-08 Tickled Pink
Dianne Reeves-The Calling- Celebrating Sarah Vaughan-11 A Chamada (The Call) 2001
Bob Thompson Band\Look Beyond the Rain\Olivia's Wish
Chris Botti-When I Fall in Love-13 Time to Say Goodbye (Con te Partiro) 2004

HOUR TWO: New For You

Andrea Brachfeld\Insight-Evolution 2022\Being With What Is
San Gabriel Seven feat Sinne Eeg-Under The Stars 2022-06 The Festival (Featuring Sinne Eeg)
Steve Davis\Bluesthetic 2022\Off the Cuff\Bluesthetic
Hendrik Meurkens\And The WDR Big Band 2022\Mountain Drive
Michael Benedict-Jazz Vibes 2022-06 Lovely Would Be Nice
Cece Gable-Next Year's Song 2022-07 The Last Goodbye
Diego Figueiredo\Follow the Signs 2022\Infinite
Lynne Arriale Trio\The Lights Are Always On 2022\Loved Ones
Mark Winkler-Late Bloomin' Jazzman 2022-02 Don't Be Blue.wav
Gabor Bolla Quartet-On The Move 2021-07 Swingin' At The Haven
Nicole Henry\TIME TO LOVE AGAIN. 2021\Wild is the Wind

HOUR THREE: Brazil/World

Antonio Adolfo\Jobim Forever 2021\08 Amparo (Intro-Por Toda a Minha Vida)
Hendrik Meurkens\And The WDR Big Band 2022\Prague in March
Sergio Pereira\Finesse 2022\\Finesse
Hendrik Meurkens\And The WDR Big Band 2022\Sambatropolis
Antonio Carlos Jobim-Composer of Desafinado Plays 1997-04 Dreamer
Lauren Henderson-Musa 2021-06 Luz (Featuring Sullivan Fortner, Eric Wheeler & Joe Dyson)
Diego Figueiredo\Follow the Signs 2022\Jobim Forever
Phill Fest\Seresta 2022\Tereko
Hendrik Meurkens\And The WDR Big Band 2022\Bolero Para Paquito (H. Meurkens)
Antonio Adolfo\Jobim Forever 2021\08 Amparo (Intro-Por Toda a Minha Vida)

HOUR FOUR: Groove, Baby

Mark Kibble Steve Khan Island Letter 2022 Single
Larry Carlton And Paul Brown - Miles And Miles To Go Single 2021
Vincent Ingala - On The Move Single
The Manhattan Transfer-The Junction-09 Tequila - The Way Of The Booze 2018
Najee\Savoir Faire 2022\Savoir Faire
Chris Standring\Simple Things 2022\Don't Get Me Started
Chuck Loeb-Plain N' Simple-02 Organeleptic 2011
Yolanda Flores\Sheer Bliss 2022\Wild is the Wind
Albare\Freedom 2022\New Expectations
Najee\The Morning After 2013\Shinjuku
Chris Standring\Simple Things 2022\And the Show Goes On
Norman Brown\Let's Get Away 2022\Down Here on The Ground


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