The SWR Big Band belongs worldwide to the best big bands and has collaborated with legendary names like Sammy Nestico, Phil Woods and Toshiko Akiyoshi. The established trumpeter Torsten Maa� has been working for many years with numerous big bands as a composer, arranger and guest conductor. He arranged for productions with Max Mutzke, Clueso, Ack van Rooyen and many more. Under his direction, the SWR Big Band played and recorded a selection of his life-inspired works - stylistically between modern mainstream and Bob Brookmeyer, in whose New Art Orchestra he was a founding member as a trumpeter. This collection of works is now released as the album "Music Written by Real Life".