The Vienna Big Band Machine was founded 1984 by Stephan Mericka. Soon Hans Salomon took over as leader. Quality was and is still the highest goal, so it will be the best musicians of Austria who are in action here (those who work(ed) in the big Vienna Theatres -Vereinigten Bühnen Wien- , Herbolzheimer Big Band, WDR - Big Band, Ostinato, Count Basic, Dancing Stars Band, Reinhard Fendrich Band, Vienna Art Orchester, Upper Austria Big Band or in the Austrian radio – ORF - Big Band). At the same time the best arrangements should lie on the music stands, so arrangers like Rens Newland and Thomas Huber take care of that, while Bandleader Hans Salomon does the biggest part anyhow. To call some of the most prominent names: Andi Haderer, Bob Dodge, Christian Radovan , Martin Fuss, Thomas Kugi, Aaron Wonesch, Walter Grassmann....