WDR Big Band’s Bluegrass — The Groundbreaking Fusion of Big Band Jazz & Bluegrass
Now Available on Vinyl
Cologne, Germany / Pittsburgh, PA — August 14, 2025 — The internationally-acclaimed WDR Big Band announces the highly anticipated vinyl release of Bluegrass, their genre-defying collaboration with bluegrass virtuosos Mike Marshall (mandolin) and Darol Anger (violin).
Already available on CD and streaming platforms, this week marks the first time the acclaimed album will be available on vinyl, offering audiophiles the warmth and depth that perfectly suits its unique soundscape. Recorded as part of a live broadcast in Germany and distributed by Pittsburgh’s MCG Jazz, Bluegrass boldly blends the traditions of Appalachian string music with the power, swing, and sophistication of large ensemble jazz. The result is a rich sonic conversation between two distinctly American art forms that, as this project proves, share deep common roots—and you can purchase it on vinyl starting on Thursday, August 14th, 2025.
All arrangements are by Bob Mintzer, WDR Big Band’s chief conductor and GRAMMY® Award-winning saxophonist, who masterfully bridges the gap between these worlds—pairing banjo-like mandolin runs with horn section swells, and Appalachian fiddle phrasing with contemporary jazz harmony in this beautiful fusion record.
The album includes nine tracks—original compositions and traditional pieces—recorded with standout solos from members of the WDR Big Band, including Karolina Strassmayer, Johan Hörlén, Ruud Breuls, Andy Hunter, Paul Heller, Jeremy Powell, Billy Test, and John Goldsby. A production of Westdeutscher Rundfunk, the project was recorded by Christian Schmitt and engineered by Walter Platte.
Highlights of Bluegrass:
-
Cross-Genre Fusion: Bluegrass meets big band jazz in an inventive, modern, and innovative reimagining, making for a fresh & unique sound.
-
Virtuoso Guests: Featuring bluegrass legends Mike Marshall and Darol Anger, with legendary saxophonist, composer, and arranger Bob Mintzer.
-
Dynamic Arrangements: Crafted by Bob Mintzer, blending tradition with modernity.
-
Live Energy: Tracks such as “Down in the Willow Garden,” recorded live in-studio.
-
Original Works: Includes new compositions like Mintzer’s “Green Lawn.”
-
Unique Instrumentation: From EWI (Electronic Wind Instrument) to mandolin and violin, creating refreshing new musical pairings.
With tracks like “Slip and Slide,” “Elzic’s Farewell/Yew Piney Mountain,” and the exhilarating closer “Borealis,” Bluegrass invites listeners into a space where swing and shuffle, fiddle and flugelhorn, barn dance and bebop coexist in harmony.
Bluegrass — WDR Big Band featuring Mike Marshall & Darol Anger
-
Large Jazz Ensemble Arrangements by Bob Mintzer
-
Recorded by Christian Schmitt
-
Engineered by Walter Platte
-
A production of Westdeutscher Rundfunk
The Bluegrass VINYL edition is now available through select retailers and the MCG Jazz online store at https://www.mcgjazz.org/shop.
For over thirty years, GRAMMY® Award-winning nonprofit MCG Jazz has served as one of the longest-running subscription jazz series in the country, enhancing the cultural life of Southwestern Pennsylvania. Through its work to Preserve, Present, and Promote Jazz, the organization, which is heading into its 39th season, has strengthened and cast a spotlight on Pittsburgh’s integral role in the history of jazz, America’s music.
