Bass Lion is dedicated to the production, distribution, and licensing of high quality music, literature, and educational materials. Bass Lion maintains the extensive Goldsby catalog of compositions and controls licensing of their music for film, video, advertising, and personal use. We offer affordable and fair rates for the legal use of the 30+ Bass Lion recordings in our catalogue.
Our recordings are distributed by The Orchard.
Big Band Bass — What the Critics Say
In a landmark moment for one of Europe’s most celebrated large ensembles, Big Band Bass—released by Bass Lion on November 7, 2025—sees American expat bassist John Goldsby step into the spotlight as composer and featured soloist with the Grammy winning WDR Big Band. Marking his 30th anniversary as a member of the Cologne-based group, the album showcases eight original compositions arranged by long-time collaborators Bob Mintzer, Michael Abene, Dave Horler, and Vince Mendoza.
John Ephland, Downbeat, Jan. 2026
“Big Band Bass is both an enjoyable return to a sound echoing another era but also a 21st-century picture of what mainstream large-ensemble jazz is up to these days.” “Goldsby’s engaging bass solos prove to be the cement that holds it all together, the solos interspersed in natural, unobtrusive ways, proving the album’s title’s not just hyperbole”
Artur Morel, All About Jazz
“This is a superb demonstration of contemporary big band mainstream, characterized, as is customary in the successful alliance between WDR and Mintzer, by impeccable craftsmanship and a tempered use of energy.”
Ken Dryden, New York City Jazz Record
"The combination of inventive compositions by Goldsby, thecreative arrangements and top-notch musicians help tomake this album stand out as a milestone recording bythe 80-year-old WDR Big Band."
Hilary Seabrook, Jazz Blog
"It’s not just the big band ensemble that is on fire with Goldsby's bass, but there are some exceptional solos, including those from Karolina Strassmayer (alto sax), Ludwig Nuss (trombone), Johan Hörlén (alto sax), Ruud Breuls (trumpet) and, perhaps unsurprisingly, Mintzer himself. The latter sets light to The Baron’s Dilemmawith his sax growing from a gorgeous sax soli section with additional tenor sax solos from Ben Fitzpatrick and Paul Heller.”
Martin Johnson, Jazz Critic for NPR Fresh Air, the Wall Street Journal and Downbeat
The lineage of bass players in the 21 st Century who have taken the helm of a big band is a short list of all-time greats: Ron Carter, Dave Holland, and Rufus Reid to name just three. It takes ambition and creative fortitude to join the lineage, but John Goldsby accomplishes just that on his album Big Band Bass, a recording that celebrates his 30 years with the WDR Big Band with arrangements by the legendary Bob Mintzer.
Steven A. Cerra, Jazz Journalists Association
Big Band Bass is a showcase for John Goldsby’s unmistakable and irrepressible musical spirit. He puts his stamp on the music with unique melodies that blend joy, beauty, and wonderful sonorities. Goldsby marks three decades with the WDR Big Band by composing a soundtrack that highlights the bass and honors the big band legacy—a fitting tribute to his journey with the ensemble.
Solo Piano Music
Our Music, Compositions, Recordings and Stories
“Powerful, emotional music.” Matt Stuart, Time Magazine
Robin Meloy Goldsby has sculpted a place for herself as a master of gracefully played ambient music that elevates the elegance of any occasion. A popular solo-piano artist, Goldsby has logged over 250 million streams on the Pandora platform in the USA.
Quality music, beautiful recordings,
artistic integrity
Jazz
John Goldsby — Bassist, Composer, Bandleader, Author
John stepped down in December 2024 after 30 years with the Grammy Award-winning WDR Big Band in Cologne. Big Band Bass—WDR Big Band, John Goldsby, Bob Mintzer is his current release. He continues to maintain a busy performance schedule with his own groups and as a sideman.
Move: WDR Big Band—Small-Group Sessions, the latest small-group recording with soloists of the WDR Big Band, is now available to stream! John’s other recent releases as bandleader include Incentive: WDR Big Band—Small-Group Sessions, Pure Imagination: WDR Big Band—Small-Group Sessions, Swim for Your Life, The Baden Baden Suite, Speak with a Purpose, I’ll Be Around, Segment, The Innkeeper’s Gun and Space for the Bass.
Selected Discography
Recent albums from Bass Lion Music
BLM024
Big Band Bass —WDR Big Band, John Goldsby, Bob Mintzer
In a landmark moment for one of Europe’s most celebrated large ensembles, Big Band Bass—released November 7, 2025 on Bass Lion—sees American bassist John Goldsby step into the spotlight as composer and featured soloist with the Grammy winning WDR Big Band. Marking his 30th anniversary as a member of the Cologne-based group, the album showcases eight original compositions arranged by long-time collaborators Bob Mintzer, Michael Abene, Dave Horler, and Vince Mendoza.
BLM023
Lumière — The Grand Hotel Collection
The Grand Hotel Collection, Robin’s 2025-26 gift of beautifully played solo piano music, invites her audience into the musical sphere of European Grand Hotels, castles, and gardens. With fifty years of experience playing live in many of the world’s best piano rooms, Goldsby has sculpted a place for herself as a master of gracefully played ambient music that elevates the sophistication of any occasion. In addition to Robin’s weekly live performances at Excelsior Hotel Ernst in Cologne and her summer artist residency at Brenners Park Hotel in Baden Baden, her recordings are featured daily at Mediterana, an award-winning spa and wellness center in Germany.
"Blue Balloon"
from Big Band Bass
“Blue Balloon” by John Goldsby, performed by the WDR Big Band under the baton of its principal conductor, Bob Mintzer. Soloists include Johann Hörlén on alto saxophone, Ruud Breuls on trumpet, and Paul Heller on tenor saxophone. Recorded live in December 2024 at the WDR Funkhaus Wallrafplatz.
CONTACT
Bass Lion is dedicated to the production, distribution, and licensing of high quality music, literature, and educational materials. Bass Lion maintains the extensive Goldsby catalog of compositions and controls licensing of their music for film, video, advertising, and personal use. We offer affordable and fair rates for the legal use of Bass Lion recordings
Telefon: +49-172-201-6159
E-Mail: info@basslionpublishing.com
Address: Onlineimpressum.de
Europaring 90
53757 Sankt Augustin
Germany