Pianist Ben Markley, along with special guest trumpeter Terell Stafford, celebrates one of the more influential and beloved figures in jazz through this unique project, showcasing many of the late pianist and composer Cedar Walton's most revered tunes through new arrangements for big band. Performing iconic compositions such as "Hindsight," "Bolivia," and "Holy Land," Markley brings together fellow faculty members from the University of Wyoming and top-flight Denver-area musicians to produce an honest and swinging recording that honors Cedar Walton while presenting his music in a bright new light. "Ben has found a way to embrace the music of Cedar Walton and transform it into stellar big band arrangements that express his voice, sound and musical genius." - TERELL STAFFORD"... to hear a big band's interpretation of Cedar's music has to be the most beautiful thing I have ever heard in my life!... I know Cedar is beaming at the results!!" - MARTHA WALTON

First transforming the iconic music of Cedar Walton into stellar big band arrangements, followed by a dive into the idiosyncratic rhythmic mastery of Ari Hoenig, pianist and composer Ben Markley's two big band albums displayed a formidable voice, always searching for challenges while reveling in surprise. With Tuesday Morning Feeling, Markley steps decisively into his own voice, delivering seven originals and several new arrangements of Thelonious Monk and Cedar Walton. He balances authority and openness, pairing strong melodic ideas with flexible frameworks that invite conversation, risk, and momentum. The band itself is a blend of long-standing Front Range collaborators and world-renowned guest artists, including Terell Stafford, Steve Nelson, Steve Davis, Bijon Watson, and David Wong, whose presence adds both fire and depth to the ensemble sound. Solos burn, the ensemble breathes as one, and the rhythmic engine never loses sight of swing. Tuesday Morning Feeling captures a big band in it's stride: grounded, evolving, and driven by the joy of making music. "a depth of melodicism and harmonic sophistication at work amidst rhythmic brilliance" DownBeat"classic big band sounds, an upbeat take on the format, full of adept arrangements and intricate soloing" DownBeat

Since his breakthrough at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2004 with 'Can't Wait Until Tonight', Max Mutzke has been regarded as one of the most versatile voices on the German music scene. Whether it's soul, funk, pop or jazz, Mutzke moves effortlessly between genres while always remaining his distinctive self. With his latest album Soul Viel Mehr, he elevates his artistry to a new level. Together with the award-winning SWR Big Band, he presents a work full of energy, emotion and musical sophistication. Opulent arrangements lend fresh brilliance to Mutzke's own songs, such as 'Welt hinter Glas' and 'Marie', while giving classics a radiant new shine. Following it's initial release as a CD (SWR19169CD) in November 2025 - which sold out within just a few weeks and after several reprints - a curated selection of tracks is now being reissued as an exclusive heavyweight LP.

The Value of Choices is the long-awaited new work by composer, guitarist, and storyteller Gabriele di Franco-a project shaped by years of reflection, doubt, vision, and the courage to choose. Written for a remarkable ensemble of musicians whose personalities and sounds inspired every line of ink on the score, the album unfolds as a collection of narratives where jazz meets classical colors, folk sensibility, and contemporary imagination. Across eight compositions, di Franco explores how every decision-musical or personal-carries weight. Each piece opens a small universe: a dreaming fly, an ancient Sardinian chant reframed through a woman's eyes, a lullaby for two children, the heaviness of loss, the intimacy of doubt, the breath that becomes creation. Voices, improvisation, and orchestral textures weave into a sound world where emotion and craftsmanship coexist. The album features gripping solos, rich orchestrations, and collaborations with guest vocalists François Vaiana, Vanesa Diaz Gil, Lieselot de Wilde, and Federico Pecoraro. Through them, di Franco expands the ensemble's timbral palette, giving story and sound equal expressive force. At the heart of this project lies a simple yet profound idea: "In composition, as in life, every choice shapes meaning." Holding this record-whether physically or digitally-is already one such choice. And for di Franco, it means everything. The Value of Choices is dedicated to his family and to mentor Kris Defoort, whose guidance has deeply influenced the composer's artistic path. Alongside his work as a composer, di Franco has built an international profile in musical theatre, opera, and contemporary music. His works-acclaimed by prestigious competitions across Europe and Asia-reflect a passion for narrative, structure, and emotional honesty. His libretti and musical theatre works, including the award-winning LULELA, reveal an artist who moves fluidly between mediums while staying rooted in the poetic power of sound. With this album, Gabriele di Franco invites listeners into a space of reflection: a place where stories breathe, choices resonate, and music becomes a shared moment of meaning.

Echoes showcases Lars Moller's masterful fusion of Scandinavian introspection, robust American jazz, and emotive Indian modalities. Joined by legendary trumpeter Palle Mikkelborg and the NDR Bigband, Moller crafts a sonic journey that reflects his artistic evolution and exploration of jazz and Indian music. Contrasting spacious, improvised passages with dense orchestrations, Echoes balances air and fire, creating a timeless soundscape that embraces both spiritual openness and rhythmic intensity.

Founded in 1951 by Erwin Lehn, The SWR Big Band has been nominated for a Grammy several times and received the German Jazz Award (Gold) in 2015. Over the course of the years, it collaborated with artists like Quincy Jones, Pat Metheny, George Benson, Gary Burton, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Curtis Stigers, Jacob Collier, Patti Austin, Roy Hargrove, Sammy Nestico, Ivan Lins, Paula Morelenbaum, Joo Kraus, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Bob Florence, Rob McConnell, Slide Hampton, Maria Schneider, Frank Foster, Bill Holman and Bob Mintzer. The album SWR Big Band live at the Elbphilharmonie from 2018 is one of the longest running bestsellers of the label. The collaboration between Sammy Nestico and The SWR Big Band began 2004, when the composer was already 80 years old. Soon it developed into a real friendship. No less than five albums have been released in the years until his death, all of them bestsellers of the SWRmusic catalogue. They additionaly made a key contribution to raising international awareness of Nestico's late creative phase. The music he wrote for The SWR Big Band sports both funky sounds and elements of fusion, combining swing, a pinch of soul and an emotional orchestral expression. The music moves artfully between reduced combo sounds and opulent textures. This sense of mutual understanding was created during the decade-plus period of collaboration between the composer and the orchestra, a collaboration built not only on notes, but also on intuition.