There’s one thing the American singer and jazz superstar Kurt Elling doesn’t doubt for a moment: that after a 30-year musical journey, Klüver’s Big Band from Denmark has played its way up through the ranks until it now stands (and swings) among the elite of Europe’s big bands. Elling’s acknowledgment came during his most recent tour with the band, and his appreciation has been underlined by recent plans for the singer and band to make a recording together.
Unusual working conditions
The orchestra has come a long way since it was formed in 1977 by a group of young musical students under the leadership of Jens Klüver. A great boost to the band’s success came 11 years later when it was declared Denmark’s first 'basic rhythmic ensemble', which later led to economic support from both the municipality and the national government. This secured fantastic working conditions – a very rare occurrence on the Danish rhythmical music scene – and thus the opportunity for the big band to continue growing.
Klüver’s Big Band plays over 50 concerts a year. Some of these are elementary- and high school concerts, since one of the band’s most important objectives is to enhance the knowledge and enjoyment of jazz among young and old alike, a goal which is fully lived up to in the orchestra’s latest CD release with former Count Basie drummer Dennis Mackrel.
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Top soloists and collective energy
Klüver’s Big Band plays music from the entire spectrum of jazz, though the main emphasis is on new big-band music that upholds tradition while adding elements of modern jazz. A large portion of the repertoire is composed and/or arranged especially for the orchestra, and many great soloists, composers and arrangers have made a lasting and pleasurable impression on audiences both young and old – as well as on the musicians in Klüver’s Big Band.
Today the group contains some of Denmark’s best jazz musicians – including several international-class soloists – but Klüver’s Big Band is first and foremost a team whose collective energy, and ability to make the music take off and swing like mad, is practically overpowering. May it continue doing so for the next 30 years as well!
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