In 2025, the jazz world lost one of its beloved talents in the arts of composing and arranging with the passing of Jim McNeely. But before he left, McNeely completed and recorded a suite of original music for his long time favored collaborative ensemble, the Frankfurt Radio Big Band. Expeditions is quite a journey, as the music suggests adventures through sound for individual musicians that McNeely had devised unique environments for.

It is only right that McNeely’s  nal piece, Expeditions, was written for and performed by the Frankfurt Radio Big Band. After years of working with the Big Band, McNeely had become familiar with all of the principal soloists and section musicians. On Expeditions, McNeely made sure to write in solo features for each member of the group, fully realizing an example set by the legendary Duke Ellington, who famously composed for each member of his vaunted orchestra in mind.

Expeditions was premiered and recorded at Frankfurt am Main’s hr-Sendesaal, Hessischer Rudfunk on June 13, 2024. Sadly, it would turn out to be McNeely’s last premiere and conducting work with the Big Band.