Although Oregon was founded as an ensemble of soloists, their strength has always been their ability to integrate as a band, a result of their unusual combination of talent and curiosity. None of the members was content with just one instrumental style, but instead developed connections with classical Indian and European music, bluegrass, folk, jazz and experimental avant-garde. With such a solid musical foundation, the Oregon four needed to do little more than appear within a zeitgeist that welcomed improvisational and chamber jazz sounds, and before an audience that valued their wild mix of characters and compositional talents.

Following the band’s formation in 1970, Oregon soon became well known from their many performances and recordings, subsequently progressing from the style laboratory of the early years into a chamber jazz authority, whose special appeal unfolded above all in their pyrotechnic concerts, such as that in Ludwigsburg, in 1990. That performance featured a colourful, mixed programme that showcased a cross-section of two decades of experimental sound.