SWR Big Band

Jazz

The next SWR Big Band concert is scheduled for Thursday, July 17, 2025 at Lindenhalle in Ehingen, Germany. See all 6 upcoming concerts

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Top Songs By SWR Big Band

Listen to Blues Samuel by Sammy Nestico & SWR Big Band, see lyrics, music video & more!

Blues SamuelSammy Nestico & SWR Big Band

Listen to Samantha (Live) by Sammy Nestico & SWR Big Band, see lyrics, music video & more!

Samantha (Live)Sammy Nestico & SWR Big Band

Listen to Piano Concerto No. 2, Op. 14: III. Rondo-Toccata. Vivace by Frank Dupree, SWR Big Band, SWR Symphonieorchester, Jakob Krupp, Meinhard Jenne & Dominik Beykirch, see lyrics, music video & more!

Piano Concerto No. 2, Op. 14: III. Rondo-Toccata. VivaceFrank Dupree, SWR Big Band, SWR Symphonieorchester, Jakob Krupp, Meinhard Jenne & Dominik Beykirch

Listen to What a Wonderful World (feat. SWR Big Band) [2014 Remaster] by Paul Carrack, see lyrics, music video & more!

What a Wonderful World (feat. SWR Big Band) [2014 Remaster]Paul Carrack

Listen to Piano Concerto No. 2, Op. 14: I. Allegro molto by Frank Dupree, SWR Big Band, SWR Symphonieorchester, Jakob Krupp, Meinhard Jenne & Dominik Beykirch, see lyrics, music video & more!

Piano Concerto No. 2, Op. 14: I. Allegro moltoFrank Dupree, SWR Big Band, SWR Symphonieorchester, Jakob Krupp, Meinhard Jenne & Dominik Beykirch

Listen to Toccata for Piano & Big Band, Op. 8 by Frank Dupree, SWR Big Band, Jakob Krupp & Meinhard Jenne, see lyrics, music video & more!

Toccata for Piano & Big Band, Op. 8Frank Dupree, SWR Big Band, Jakob Krupp & Meinhard Jenne

Listen to Piano Concerto No. 2, Op. 14: II. Andante by Frank Dupree, SWR Big Band, SWR Symphonieorchester, Dominik Beykirch, Jakob Krupp & Meinhard Jenne, see lyrics, music video & more!

Piano Concerto No. 2, Op. 14: II. AndanteFrank Dupree, SWR Big Band, SWR Symphonieorchester, Dominik Beykirch, Jakob Krupp & Meinhard Jenne

Listen to Variations for Piano & Big Band, Op. 3 by Frank Dupree, SWR Big Band, Jakob Krupp & Meinhard Jenne, see lyrics, music video & more!

Variations for Piano & Big Band, Op. 3Frank Dupree, SWR Big Band, Jakob Krupp & Meinhard Jenne

Listen to Night Flight by Sammy Nestico & SWR Big Band, see lyrics, music video & more!

Night FlightSammy Nestico & SWR Big Band

Listen to Piano Concerto No. 6, Op. 74: III. Allegro giocoso by Frank Dupree, SWR Big Band, Dominik Beykirch, Jakob Krupp & Meinhard Jenne, see lyrics, music video & more!

Piano Concerto No. 6, Op. 74: III. Allegro giocosoFrank Dupree, SWR Big Band, Dominik Beykirch, Jakob Krupp & Meinhard Jenne

Upcoming Concerts for SWR Big Band

Latest Release

Listen to More Than Just Friends by SWR Big Band & Marc Godfroid

ALBUMMore Than Just FriendsSWR Big Band & Marc Godfroid

More albums from SWR Big Band

Listen to Kapustin: Piano Concertos Nos. 2 & 6 & Other Piano Works by Frank Dupree, SWR Big Band, SWR Symphonieorchester & Dominik Beykirch

ALBUMKapustin: Piano Concertos Nos. 2 & 6 & Other Piano WorksFrank Dupree, SWR Big Band, SWR Symphonieorchester & Dominik Beykirch

Listen to It Is What It Is by SWR Big Band & Joe Gallardo

ALBUMIt Is What It IsSWR Big Band & Joe Gallardo

Listen to Music Written by Real Life, Pt. 2 by Torsten Maaß & SWR Big Band

ALBUMMusic Written by Real Life, Pt. 2Torsten Maaß & SWR Big Band

Listen to As We Speak by Fola Dada & SWR Big Band

ALBUMAs We SpeakFola Dada & SWR Big Band

Listen to Music Written by Real Life (Pt. I) by Torsten Maaß & SWR Big Band

ALBUMMusic Written by Real Life (Pt. I)Torsten Maaß & SWR Big Band

Listen to Transitions by SWR Big Band & Magnus Lindgren

ALBUMTransitionsSWR Big Band & Magnus Lindgren

ALBUMMackie Messer: Brechts DreigroschenfilmSWR Big Band & SWR Symphonieorchester

ALBUMA Cool BreezeSWR Big Band

Listen to Volkslieder 2.0 by SWR Vokalensemble Stuttgart, SWR Big Band & Morten Schuldt-Jensen

ALBUMVolkslieder 2.0SWR Vokalensemble Stuttgart, SWR Big Band & Morten Schuldt-Jensen

Listen to Bossarenova (with Joo Kraus & Ralf Schmid) by SWR Big Band & Paula Morelenbaum

ALBUMBossarenova (with Joo Kraus & Ralf Schmid)SWR Big Band & Paula Morelenbaum

Listen to No Time Like the Present by SWR Big Band & Sammy Nestico

ALBUMNo Time Like the PresentSWR Big Band & Sammy Nestico

Listen to Public Jazz Lounge by Joo Kraus, Ralf Schmid & SWR Big Band

ALBUMPublic Jazz LoungeJoo Kraus, Ralf Schmid & SWR Big Band

Listen to Rondo Piano by Rondo Piano & SWR Big Band

ALBUMRondo PianoRondo Piano & SWR Big Band

ALBUMDas große Evergreen-WunschkonzertUschi Bauer & SWR Big Band

ALBUMGlenn Miller - Die größten ErfolgeSWR Big Band

About SWR Big Band

Hometown

Stuttgart, Germany

Formed

1951

Genre

Jazz

Germany's SWR Big Band is a dynamic ensemble with decades of experience as one of the premier large jazz outfits in Europe. Founded by Erwin Lehn in Stuttgart in 1951, the SWR Big Band initially started out as the Südfunk Tanzorchester, playing dance music on South German Radio. After Lehn's retirement in 1992 (and a renaming of the public radio station to Südwestrundfunk or SWR), the ensemble relaunched under the name the SWR Big Band. Benefiting from a rotating lineup of conductors as well a bevy of guest performers, they have released a long list of albums including 1993's Jazz in Concert with Bill Holman, 1996's SWR Big Band: Jazz Matinee with Phil Woods, and 2000's Plays the Music of Maria Schneider and Kurt Weill, Live! featuring Maria Schneider. They have remained remarkably prolific over the past 20 years, collaborating on a steady string of albums with such luminaries as Bob Mintzer, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Roy Hargrove, Pat Metheny, and many more. A highly respected, in-demand ensemble, they have four Grammy nominations to their credit, including two for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album for 2002's Jazz Matinee with Slide Hampton and 2009's Fun Time & More Live with Sammy Nestico. On 2017's A Cool Breeze with Sammy Nestico, they paired again with the legendary composer and arranger for a set of some of his classic songs as well as newly penned charts. ~ Matt Collar

Members of SWR Big Band include, or have included, Peter Weniger, Klaus Wagenleiter, Karl Farrent, Don Rader, and Ian Cumming.