The hr-Jazzensemble is a freely associated ensemble of jazz musicians who recorded monthly for the Hessischer Rundfunk in Germany. Established in 1958 during the 6th German Jazz Festival Frankfurt, the group was initially formed under the name German All-Stars and later renamed by Eberhard Beckmann, then director of the Hessischer Rundfunk. The ensemble's formation was inspired by Horst Lippmann, a free worker at the Frankfurt station. Initially featuring prominent guests from the United States, the hr-Jazzensemble has since evolved to include notable European musicians as well. Their discography includes Atmospheric Conditions Permitting (1967–1993), which won the German Record Critics' Award in 1996. The hr-Jazzensemble received the Hessian State Jazz Prize in 2009 for their contributions to jazz development.
