The SWR Big Band’s unique reputation for experimentation, collaboration and prioritization may at first appear surprising, but the ensemble’s creative powers have earned it four Grammy nominations in the past. Its independent character combines deep roots in the swing and bop tradition with an open-minded approach to contemporary sounds, plus a thrilling sense of fun in performance. Recent guests such as guitarist Larry Carlton and composer/singer Ivan Lins have been able to contribute to this mix; similarly the entertainer Curtis Stigers and master guitarist Pat Metheny, not to mention the composer and arranger Sammy Nestico, one of the constants in the world of American music since the 1950s. This friendly, white-haired gentleman from Pittsburgh has repeatedly crossed paths with the SWR Big Band. Recordings such as No Time Like The Present (2004), Basie-Cally Sammy (2005), Fun Time (2009) and Fun Time and More- Live (2011), made a key contribution to raising international awareness of Nestico’s late creative phases. “Beautiful things never disturb” is a motto that Nestico adopted while working with Count Basie, enabling him to leave prevailing fashions behind. The music he wrote for the SWR Big Band sports both funky sounds and elements of fusion, combining swing, a pinch of soul and an emotional orchestral expression. The music moves artfully between reduced combo sounds and opulent textures. The compositional intensity goes far beyond the printed score, a creative mastery that baritone saxophonist Pierre Paquette sums up with saying, “Sammy is the boss!” This sense of mutual understanding was created during the decade-plus period of collaboration between the composer and the orchestra, a collaboration built not only on notes, but also on intuition.