Marking his 30th anniversary as a member of the Cologne-based group, the album showcases eight original compositions arranged by long-time collaborators Bob Mintzer, Michael Abene, Dave Horler, and Vince Mendoza.

From swinging hard bop and lyrical ballads to Brazilian grooves and brassy dance-party climaxes, Big Band Bass pushes the tradition forward while staying rooted in decades of shared musical history. At the core of this recording lies John Goldsby’s unmistakable tone and lyrical sensibility—qualities seldom heard from a big band bassist, and rarer still as the defining voice of an entire album.

Mintzer’s arrangements form the core of the album, alongside a standout contribution by Mendoza – Sonatinita – which pairs Goldsby’s deep-toned lyricism with airy woodwind textures and a Latin rhythmic edge. Other highlights include Blue Balloon, a soulful hard bop tribute to Goldsby’s early days in New York, and the playful You Can Call Him Maestro, which blends funky acoustic bass with CTI-era flair.

The full WDR Big Band is in formidable form, with standout solos from Karolina Strassmayer, Ludwig Nuss, Johan Hörlén, Ruud Breuls, and Mintzer himself, whose saxophone fires up the driving closer The Baron’s Dilemma.

Goldsby, a former mainstay of the New York jazz scene, joined the WDR Big Band in 1994 and has since collaborated with Maria Schneider, Joe Lovano, McCoy Tyner and Roy Hargrove. Big Band Bass is his most personal project to date.

“Working with the WDR Big Band for 30 years has been a joy—and showcasing my original music on this album is a dream come true,” says Goldsby. “With Bob [Mintzer] arranging and playing sax, and contributions from Vince Mendoza and other longtime friends, it felt like a family project.”