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 Maaß 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".