The story Gunther's decision to give birth to this band was initialized by a phone call from Germany in October 2002. The organizers of the German American Institute where looking for a special act to highlight there 50th anniversary celebrating in four different German cities. They asked Gunther to put a band together that would represent the Chicago music scene at its best. The tour was a great success. To top it all SWRecords asked Gunther for permission to record one of the concerts in Gunther's hometown Tübingen/Germany. Thomas Gunther, piano Gunther is an internationally active recording artist, jazz pianist, and composer. Originally from Germany, he moved to Chicago in 1997 shortly after receiving his Masters Degree in Teaching and Performing Jazz from the State University Of Stuttgart. Since than Gunther has recorded many albums and performed with such greats as Chicago's own Orbert Davis and Bill Russo's Chicago Jazz Ensemble, besides many others.