Peter Herbolzheimer Rhythm Combination & Brass live at Berliner Jazztage 1973

Benny Bailey, Ron Simmons, Ack van Rooyen, Palle Mikkelborg (tp)
Jiggs Wigham, Ake Persson, Rudi Fuesers (tb); Peter Herbolzheimer (btb)
Herb Geller (as, ss, fl)
Dieter Reith (org); Horst Mühlbradt (elp); Philip Catherine (g)
Lucas Lindholm (b); Kenny Clare (dr)
Special guest: Jon Faddis (tp) on tracks 3 and 4
recorded live at Philharmonie Berlin, November 3, 1973

1. Frog Dance (Peter Herbolzheimer)
2. Timbales Calientes (Horst Mühlbradt)
3. Sunflower Chant (Peter Herbolzheimer)
4. Nica's Dream (Horace Silver)

n 1969 Herbolzheimer formed his Rhythm Combination and Brass (RC&B) for which he wrote most of the arrangements. This big band was unique in that it had an international lineup of eight brass, but originally only one saxophone, with Herb Geller in that chair. The list of brass players included Allan Botschinsky, Art Farmer, Dusko Goykovich, Palle Mikkelborg, Ack van Rooyen (Netherlands) and Jiggs Whigham. The rhythm section consisted of two keyboards, guitar, bass, drums and percussion and included renowned musicians such as Dieter Reith, Philip Catherine, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Bo Stief, Alex Riel, Grady Tate, and Nippy Noya. For special events the group was augmented as necessary, but the basic combination remained as such for several years. In the late 1970s the band toured successfully with a "jazz gala" program featuring guest stars such as Esther Phillips, Stan Getz, Nat Adderley, Gerry Mulligan, Toots Thielemans, Clark Terry, and Albert Mangelsdorff. In later years the RC&B played many concert tours, television shows and jazz festivals. It was later replaced by a regular sized big band, which featured many noted international artists such as Dianne Reeves and Chaka Khan, that was still active until Peter's passing.
In 1972 Herbolzheimer wrote music for the Edelhagen Band's opening of the Olympic Games in Munich. In 1974 Herbolzheimer's Rhythm Combination & Brass entered an annual television competition held in the Belgian seaside resort Knokke, winning the coveted Golden Swan Award. He also won the International Jazz Composers Competition 1974 in Monaco. Herbolzheimer's arrangements are a distinctive amalgam of swing, Latin and rhythmic rock music. In 1973 RC&B released "Wide Open" on MPS.