WDR Pays Tribute to Neal Hefti

Neal Hefti is probably best known for his Count Basie arrangements but equally exciting are his TV and movie scores. Back in 2022, Germany's WDR Big Band, under the direction of Jörg Achim Keller, took on the Hefti book with smart results. [Photo above of Neal Hefti]

Here are eight Hefti pieces by the WDR Big Band:

Here's the theme for The Odd Couple movie in 1968...

Here's Repetition, for producer Norman Granz and alto saxophonist Charlie Parker in 1947...

Here's Bells, for Harry James in 1949...

Here's Li'l Darlin', for Count Basie in 1957...

Here's Cute, for Count Basie in 1958...

Here's Teddy the Toad, for Count Basie in 1958...

Here's Flight of the Foo Birds, for Count Basie in 1958...

 

And here's Splanky, for Count Basie in 1957...

Bonus: Here's Here's to My Lover, from How to Murder Your Wife (1965). Dig the fantastic fidelity (click "Watch on YouTube")...