Kurt Edelhagen (June 5, 1920 – February 8, 1982) was a German big band leader, composer, and arranger, known for his contributions to jazz and swing orchestral music. Born in Herne, Germany, he studied piano and conducting at the Musikhochschule in Weimar before focusing on big band jazz.
In the late 1940s and 1950s, Edelhagen gained recognition for his energetic and polished big band sound, often compared to American jazz legends like Stan Kenton and Count Basie. He led orchestras for German radio stations and became one of the most prominent figures in post-war European jazz.
In 1957, he formed the Kurt Edelhagen Orchestra, which became internationally acclaimed for its innovative arrangements and world-class musicians. His orchestra was the official ensemble for Germany’s ARD television network and played a key role in the opening ceremony of the 1972 Munich Olympics.
Edelhagen’s influence extended beyond jazz, shaping broadcast music and orchestral entertainment in Europe. His legacy remains significant in the world of big band music, bridging the gap between traditional swing and modern jazz.
55 recordings by Kurt Edelhagen you can hear on Instrumentals Forever:
A Kiss To Build A Dream On • A Tree In The Meadow (1948 London) • Again • All The Nice Girls Love A Sailor (1912 Stockholm) • Borriquito • Broadway Melody Of 1936 (medley) • By The Time I Get To Phoenix • Chlo-E • Co-Co • Coucou (1920 Antwerp) • Didn’t We • Down By The Riverside • Evie • Freedom Come, Freedom Go • Galveston • Give My Regards To Broadway (1904 St Louis) • Grandpa’s Straw Hat (1952 Helsinki) • Honey Come Back • I Am I Said • If You Must Leave My Life • I’ll Never Be The Same • I’ll See You In My Dreams • In A Shanty In Old Shanty Town (1932 Los Angeles) • It Happened In Monterey • Je cherche après Titine (1900 Paris) • Lullaby For Trombone • MacArthur Park • Mamy Blue • Mini Meets Maxi • My Fair Lady (medley) • My Man (Mon homme) (1924 Paris) • My Prayer (1956 Melbourne) • No, No, Nanette (medley) • Oklahoma! (medley) • Olympic Celebrations (1896 Athens) • On Green Dolphin Street • Porgy And Bess (medley) • Sag’ beim Abschied leise Servus (1936 Berlin) • Shilo • Soley Soley • Spanish Harlem • Spinning Wheel • Sunshower • Superstar • The Olympic Song (1964 Tokyo) • The Threepenny Opera (medley) • The Trolley Song • Theme From ‘A Summer Place’ (1960 Rome) • Try A Little Tenderness • Up, Up And Away • We Are Goin’ Down Jordan • When The Sun Shines (Als de zon schijnt) (1928 Amsterdam) • Where’s The Playground, Susie • Wichita Lineman • You Stepped Out Of A Dream •
