Neal Hefti - The Odd Couple | WDR BIG BAND

The WDR BIG BAND plays "The Odd Couple" (composer: Neal Hefti; arranger: Jörg Achim Keller). The soloist is Jens Neufang on baritone saxophone. The WDR BIG BAND is conducted by Jörg Achim Keller. Produced as part of the WDR JAZZCLUB concert "Atomic Hefti" at WDR Studios Bocklemünd / Cologne (October 2022).
Episode of the WDR BIG BAND:
/ wdrbigband
www.wdr-bigband.de
WDR BIG BAND
Johan Hörlén - alto saxophone
Pascal Bartoszak - alto saxophone
Frank Jacobi - tenor saxophone
Paul Heller - tenor saxophone
Jens Neufang - baritone saxophone
Ludwig Nuss - trombone
Raphael Klemm - trombone
Andy Hunter - trombone
Mattis Cederberg - bass trombone
Andy Haderer - trumpet
Rob Bruynen - trumpet
Wim Both - trumpet
Ruud Breuls - trumpet
Hans Dekker, drums
Billy Test, piano
John Goldsby, bass
James Chirillo, guitar
Arnd Richter - Manager WDR Big Band
Christian Schmitt - Recording Producer
Walter Platte - sound engineer
Raimund Wunderlich - sound engineer
Peter Krachten - director

[@brendascully5068]

No matter how down I feel this music always puts a smile on my face the film is a laugh a minute

[@WDRBIGBAND]

That sounds great for us!

[@johnwirenius8152]

Fantastic version from WDR Big Band. Love it!

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Thank you!

[@cheri238]

Thanks again, WDR Big Band. Music is the glue that holds our world together and art. All of you are a part of that.🌎🙏

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Hi Cheri! Would be great!

[@johnwirenius8152]

Wunderbar!

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Vielen Dank!

[@JK-jn4fu]

The evolution of "Charlie and his Orchestra" to what I see and hear before me is amazing and such a beautiful thing. The arrangement along with the execution is top notch.

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Thank you for your kind words and welcome to our channel!

[@marcguillot3843]

Super chorus de Jens au baryton 👍

[@brucekuehn4031]

Once again (after the TV Batman theme) you do a bang-up job on an immediately recognizable theme from Mr Neal Hefti. And again, for Americans, the first opening notes bring back a flood of memories. From the Broadway play by Neil Simon, they made the movie in 1968. Then in 1970, came the TV series that ran until 1975 for a total of 114 episodes. Lots of laughs! As they say, “Nostalgia ain’t what it used to be.”

[@manuelcarrasco7183]

Jamas vi películas de Batman y la conocia.

[@rickbarnes1298]

BRAVO to all !!! I've already seen the video of this arrangement with the band performing in your rehearsal studio but here you are now LIVE in concert. I always enjoy what I call the "mellow section" of the band -- two flugelhorns and two valve trombones (being a valve trombone player myself) -- and yet another spectacular improvised solo by your baritone saxophone player. Marvelous, indeed !!

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Hi Rick! Thank you very much!

[@waynejrice]

Rich and gorgeous. That 60s swing just has a swagger that is unlike anything else.

[@WDRBIGBAND]

True, Wayne!

[@newyorkcityjazz1]

I've always loved this! I watched the show when I was a kid.

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Hi Chris! Nice to hear from you!!!

[@jatontherun]

You gents would be an awesome addition to the Rochtester NY Jazz Festival!! Makes ir happen! Playing at the Eastman Theater would be incredible!!!

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Thank you for the idea!

[@gerardmcgorian7070]

You did it again, guys! Absolutely brilliant performance. And Jörg, your arrangement was the best and most sophisticated ever. Well done!

[@WDRBIGBAND]

👍Gerard!

[@petertraub357]

Wonderful cool and relaxed music from another century. Phantastic big band, baritone solo and arrangement. Neal Hefti would have been jealous of it.

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Hi Peter! Maybe he would be happy ....

[@Kathreleena72]

Immer wieder schön zu erleben, wie ihr die „alten“ Klassiker veredelt. Tolles Arrangement und klasse gespielt.

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Hi Erwin! Danke für die lieben Worte!

[@MikeJamesMedia]

What an interesting arrangement. I expected this tune to be played with a kind of "roughness", to go with the comedic nature of the TV show, and instead, it was brilliantly contoured, in a much smoother and nice way than expected. Excellent, everyone!

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Hi Mike! Thanx!

[@crossleydd42]

@@WDRBIGBAND Who actually wrote this interesting arrangement?

[@philpiper]

Fabulous arrangement and great bari solo, Neil would be proud! Phil in Scotland

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Thanx!

[@newyorkcityjazz1]

The soli with 2 flugelhorns and 2 valve trombones is super cool!! And great solo by Jens.

[@WDRBIGBAND]

🙌 Chris!

[@peregarcia185]

Fantastic! Great theme music and fabulous big band!

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Welcome on our channel, PERE! And thank you for your kind words!

[@mimilazar2002]

Best band.

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Thank you!

[@daveyewart4289]

outstanding

[@WDRBIGBAND]

😊🎶

[@miroslawamarcinkowska1953]

bravo Orchestra! I love you Big Band

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Thank you, Miroslawa!

[@jaegertiger384]

BEST part....Trumpets of course... starts at 3:20. It has overtones of Henri Mancini's "Pink Panther" (ANOTHER great chart).

[@WDRBIGBAND]

😊, thank you!

[@kevinthomson9680]

Love the Flugel and Valve Trombone pairing, looks and sounds great!! Great take on a Hefti classic!!

[@WDRBIGBAND]

🙌 Kevin!

[@luderfitschen1494]

Amazing cool. Wunderbar. Ich liebe den Sound und den Groove! Eine TV-Serien-Klassiker-Titelmelodie"!

[@WDRBIGBAND]

😉👍

[@philipcollura2669]

Aside from the great music, brings back fond memories of the movie and TV series.

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Yes, that was the plan, philip!

[@paulbelfrage876]

YEAH...Go Jens you groover!! Beautiful bari solo! Thank you all. Pb

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Thank you, paul!

[@waynepierce3690]

Oh so good! Fantastic music, great memories and continued streaming from Germany from the WDR Big Band! Thank you for every song that you send us all around the world!

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Hi wayne! We do our best and cannot do more than we do:)

[@lauracastilloruiz9471]

Fabulosos 👏👏👏👏😘😘❤️❤️❤️

[@thomaschacko6320]

Thank you, Neal Hefti, for another marvellous theme! The most famous “couples,” Jack Lemmon & Walter Matthau, and Tony Randall & Jack Klugman, would be proud to hear this performance.

[@WDRBIGBAND]

😊👍

[@athleticchipnyc]

Love this 🎉

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Thank you!

[@galinakrivulin6767]

Every time there is something special with you. Thank you, it’s just great.

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Hi Galina! Thank you!

[@galinakrivulin6767]

@@WDRBIGBAND You are welcome.

[@jeanpierrecarpentier]

Happiness is a thing called ''med swing'' 😁

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Hi jean-pierre! Yeah!

[@thefool2007]

Awesome arrangement and performance. Wow!

[@WDRBIGBAND]

😎

[@user-bn9rw5xj5z]

Sublime bari sax solo sir😊

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Thank you!

[@MrEnikbenik]

Кайфово, балдёжно, сладко! Excellent! 🤠🤘💖🌹🤗 Спасибо!

[@WDRBIGBAND]

🙌 Enikbenik!

[@johnrichkus2486]

Sublime! Thanks for posting this!

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Thank you for watching and welcome to our channel!

[@lessonwithcraig]

Memories 😁

[@WDRBIGBAND]

👍 Craig!

[@robthemod58]

Blooming marvellous ❤

[@WDRBIGBAND]

👍 Prestidigitation!

[@BassistPaul]

Super, as ever. Nice bari!

[@jtolsa]

Excellent! Bari solo + deep groove all around. Almost agreeing to Peter Traub - Neal Hefti would appreciate & respect the fine tuning of his work ;)

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Thank you, Juha!

[@Egbert1957]

So, und nicht anders, muss dass gespielt werden, sage ich hörtechnisch des Öfteren. Hier neu interpretiert und das Original tatsächlich klangfarblich verbessert.

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Merci, Egbert1957!

[@MichaelPernus]

Schöne Erinnerungen an den Spielfilm mit Jack Lemmon und Walter Matthau; "Ich habe nun mal Füße und die hinterlassen Spuren! Oder soll ich wie ein Eichhörnchen über die Schränke springen?"

[@WDRBIGBAND]

😂😂😂Ja, das waren noch lustige Krimis!

[@stanleywanglund6272]

fantastic arrangement, wonderful, bluesy, sexy ...great job!~

[@WDRBIGBAND]

😎Stanley!

[@jetsongarcia2795]

Has some similarity as Bag's Groove theme

[@eranimongelos5749]

Bravo !!!!!!!

[@WDRBIGBAND]

🙌👍

[@josephmontz3404]

Nice! Flugels and valve bones.

[@jazzbariman]

You all better be have a Hefti CD coming out with this tune and the Batman theme on it as recorded here, otherwise, my CD collection will NEVER be complete. This and all of the Hefti tunes need to be persevered on a recording like a CD. Great arrangements, great sound, great tunes!! Great band!! When are you touring the US?? Thank you for this. it made my day!!

[@WDRBIGBAND]

We will do our best, but at the moment there are no plans about a CD Release, jazzBariMan!

[@jazzbariman]

@@WDRBIGBAND That is too bad. After talking about this and the Batman Theme video you did, there are about 15 of my coworkers ready to purchase a Hefti CD from you. A few have already ordered some of your CDs. Great arrangement and great sound on this. The Fluegelhorns and Valve Trombones make this a memorable and fantastic recording. Great job!!! Great arrangement!!

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Hi JazzBariMan! Thank you very much! We are honored and take your wish on the big list!

[@oksst3680]

❤

[@AndreaFettweis]

Herrlich! 🤗❤️

[@WDRBIGBAND]

😊 Andrea!

[@warthog57]

Jens - Swingin'!

[@davidsimms8633]

Splendid stuff! Danke

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Thanx, David!

[@jimstead1002]

A baritone sax solo - whatever next!

[@WDRBIGBAND]

😊 Jim!

[@normalizedaudio2481]

Don't move your jaw young sax players.

[@MrDsmith1959]

Sounds Like Fun

[@WDRBIGBAND]

We had fun, Duane!

[@gilmueller4803]

Viel Spaß

[@peterschulz3681]

Da war alles noch in Ordnung

[@WDRBIGBAND]

🤔 Peter!

[@isabelladestegonzaga5529]

HAHAHAHAHA - DAS IST GUT! NUR GUTE ERINNERUNGEN! Walter Matthau und Jakob Zitrone :D

[@WDRBIGBAND]

😎🍋 ISABELLA!

[@tinotromba3538]

Che dire suuuuuuuper

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Hi Tino! Merci!

[@manuelcarrasco7183]

No sabía como se llamsba; la busco hace años , era de una pelicula ¿ jack Lemon?

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Hi manuel! Lo sentimos, no podemos responder a esa pregunta.

[@peregarcia185]

La extraña pareja (en castellano). Jaco Lemon y Walther Mathau.

[@manuelcarrasco7183]

@@peregarcia185 En Chile se llamó : piso de soltero .no recordaba el titulo de Holivood