The Ensemble features some of the best avant-garde jazz musicians from Germany and abroad. It was founded in 1975. Wolfgang Dauner, a pianist, recruited musicians from Stuttgart, which was then a hub of avant-garde music. He put together a rotating group of musicians and shared writing and arrangement duties with Volker Kriegel. In 1977, they recorded Live im Schutzenhaus, their first album as United Jazz Rock Ensemble. It was to be released by the group’s Mood Records label. It was a huge success and became the most-sold German jazz record. The Ensemble received the “Deutscher Schallplattenpreis” in 1978 for artist of the Year. There were 14 more albums, plus many international collaborations. from http://www.discogs.com
