Kurt Edelhagen exactly what he wanted from his orchestra. He wanted the awesome best. And, he got it, even more. What a great jazz music orchestra leader he was. His closest competition came from England and France, but he out-swung them all, including many of the bands from the USA as well. And his musicians were equally as great in interpreting and.producing the essential sounds and lyricism of Jazz and popular music.
A fantastic Bigband. What a trumpet section: Hanne Wilfert, Fritz Weichbroth, Milo Pavlovic, Shake Keane - Kurt Edelhagen said one High Note-trumpet player, but Hanne Wilfert and Fritz Weichbroth were all fantastic high note players. Karl Drewo and Bubi Aderhold, Otto Bredl too, were fantastic musicians too. Or hear the piano player. This was in 1965 the best of the European Bigband Jazz.
Ok, I'm knocked out now. As a big band bari player from this era, surprised to never even have HEARD of these CATS! Well, now that's taken care of. These charts and recording quality are really excellent. Heavy players indeed! From here on count me as an avid listener. Many thanks for this post.
Even to-date, February 1, 2021, there are only a, rare, a few, bands that can match the jazz intensity, the outstanding impact, the jazz quality and musical control and tone as managed by this great orchestra under the direction, the conductorship, of the one and only Kurt Edelhagen, a jazz music Master for all ages. Each of the soloists, then playing within the band, were exceptionally captivating musicians, with few peers out there even today.
If only they could have played in UK.....but sadly. The hard driving opening track brought tears of joy to my so good was it, and the remainder immense pleasure.
This concert is an absolute utter gem! And come to think of it, it's an "sleeper" video. Never heard of these band-men. Lots of American jazz artists came to Europe for Artistic-Recognition, which was more or less lacking in the States, at the time; some are in this band. The fantastic arrangements and the solo's are bloody crackin' and pure swinging. Thanks for this incredible upload. Enjoy & Cheers!
I have several Kurt Edelhagen LP's but on listening to this its pretty difficult to believe there might have been any better big bands operating at this point in the 60's - top arrangements, section playing and soloists!
Excellent solos from Shake Keane on trumpet [from St Vincent], who recorded with Joe Harriott, and Wilton 'Bogey' Gaynair on tenor sax [a graduate of the famed Alpha School in Kingston Jamaica with 3 sets under his leadership. Any help identifying the other musicians much appreciated. This is a fine big band set....
This was just four years before I became aware of Herr Edelhagen and his excellent band in '69, from three great tracks: _Copacabana_ and _Song from the Moulin Rouge_ and _The Lambeth Walk_ which appeared on Polydor Stereo Wonderland LPs 109625/6/7 and I still play today. RU-vid and its contributors do a tremendous service to the memory of these musicians and that era, capturing precious moments in time. The BBC ditched vast amounts of its early videotaped programme stock - but is it possible that other European stations had more foresight?
I believe I'm correct when I say that UK MU rules dictated that all BBC recorded music had to be erazed after the third transmission, be it TV or radio. So in theory no tapes should exist. But i refuse to believe that BBC studio managers did not copy tapes of performances they adjudged as well worth retaining..
waren die gut - als Spätgeborener war mir nie bewusst wie gut und habe sie fälschlicherweise als Schlagerkapelle abgetan. Hiermit leiste ich Abbitte - Respekt Kurt
... hart und präzise, bis die Lippen bluten (Titel SPIEGEL damals). Klare Klangbild-Sektionen-Trennung. Manchmal klingen die gleichen Musiker unter K. Edelhagen besser-anders als später unter F. Boland in den gleichen/selbigen Arrangements.
Das Konzert war unser DDRBÜRGERN damals nicht vergönnt 1965 während unserer Konkurenz mit unserem RTO Leipzig unter Kurt Henkels in der DDR ;also leider Heute sieht man das etwas Anders.So war es leider.
Drums: Dai Bowen (UK), Bass:Jonny Fischer(Aus),Piano:Bora Rokovic(Yug), Trumpet: Shake Keane (UK)Milo Pavlovic(Yug) Fritz Weichbrodt Hanne Wilfert (Germ), Trombone: Nick Hauch Otto Bredl (Germ) JiggsWigham(USA) Manfred Gatjens (Germ). Sax: Wilton Gaynair (West Indies) Karl Drewo(Aus) Drek Humble(UK) Bubi Aderhold (Germ). That's the best I can do Rick.
