Established trumpeter Torsten Maaß has been working for many years with numerous big bands as a composer, arranger and guest conductor. He collaborated on 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 that lay 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 on the album Music Written by Real Life.