SWR Big Band awarded a Grammy

SWR Big Band awarded a Grammy The SWR Big Band received a Grammy in Los Angeles for a track from their album "Bird Lives" in the category "Best Arrangement (Instrumental or A Cappella)". Grammy for SWR Big Band At the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, the SWR Big Band received one of the coveted prizes, namely for a track from their album "Bird Lives". The album is a joint production of the SWR Big Band with Magnus Lindgren and John Beasley. He wrote the now excellent arrangement in "Scrapple from the Apple" from the album. The album "Bird Lives" was nominated in a total of three categories. Band Manager: "Great" to have won After multiple Grammy nominations, to actually win is "fantastic and great," says band manager Hans-Peter Zachary. The way there was not easy: the album was created during the pandemic, and there were always setbacks. "It was really, really difficult for everyone," he says. However, the project kept her mentally afloat over time. He is happy for all colleagues who took part. "Everyone played their ass in good German to implement exactly what everyone had in mind. That was a really great experience." A musical arc from the past to the future The idea for "Bird Lives" came about in 2020 in close collaboration between Magnus Lindgren, the Big Band's artist in residence, and John Beasley. The occasion was the 100th birthday of US musician Charlie Parker, one of the most influential musicians in the history of jazz. The round birthday should have been celebrated big in 2020. The planned concerts ultimately fell victim to Corona, but work on the album continued unabated. On the one hand you can hear the now excellent Parker original "Scrapple from the Apple", which John Beasley has rearranged, on the other hand there are also standards that were among Parker's favorites, such as "Cherokee/Koko" or Gershwins "Summer time". The grand finale of the album - the "Overture to Bird" consists of numerous musical Parker quotes and themes. With one foot in the past and one in the future - in their arrangements Lindgren and Beasley pay homage to Parker's brilliant music and enrich it elements from Funk to Latin. Impressive list of guest musicians on the album The fact that the concept works can also be seen from the CD's guest list, which reads like a who's who of the world's best saxophonists: Chris Potter, Joe Lovano, Miguel Zenon, Tia Fuller and Charles McPherson as well as a special appearance by the French scat singer Camille Bertault, all of which - due to Corona - were recorded with the help of overdubbing technology. Ten musicians from the SWR Symphony Orchestra were also involved in the album. SWR Big Band repeatedly awarded The current Grammy award for the SWR Big Band is the first after the ensemble has already been nominated for a Grammy four times in the past. In 2011 the SWR Big Band was the first German band to receive the "Premio da Música Brasileira" and in 2015 the "German Jazz Award in Gold".