They can play the traditional big band jazz repertoire just as well as contemporary jazz that transcends all stylistic boundaries: The musicians of the hr-Bigband stand for a wide range of genres and form an ensemble that meets any challenge with confidence. The hr-Bigband has invited and continues to invite leading figures from the international jazz scene to Hesse to perform their work in a big band format. For almost all of their projects, the music is newly arranged or composed. To this end, the hr-Bigband works with a number of top-class arrangers and conductors - first and foremost with its chief conductor Jim McNeely, whose arrangements always win high praise from audiences and the press.

In order to pass on the flame of big band jazz, the hr-Bigband is committed to promoting young talent. Numerous initiatives offer young people intensive, up-close musical experiences and motivate young musicians to become active themselves.

With diverse concert programmes played to the highest standard, the hr-Bigband appeals to listeners with a wide range of tastes. All concert projects are recorded for radio or released on CD.

The Swiss drummer and bandleader Jörg Achim Keller was chief conductor of the hr-Bigband from 2000 to 2008, then head of the NDR Bigband until 2016. As a guest conductor of many ensembles and arranger, Keller has become an important figure on the European Big Band scene. In addition to his »Jazz« career, he also conducts classical orchestras and is in high demand as an arranger for stars from a wide range of artistic backgrounds, such as Till Brönner, Udo Jürgens and the No Angels.