Effective period / Period of releases: 1972

Members: Heiner Wiberny, Jon Eardley, Harald Banter, Peter Grützner, Robby Schmitz, Alfred Sallmon, Hans Doelle, Mäcki Schäning, Andreas Scheer, Manfred Geiss, Freddy Arenz, Theo Heinz, Günther Vogel (2), Karl Blume (3), Thomas Fest (2)

Orchestra founded and conducted by Harald Banter in 1951, inspired by the music of The George Shearing Quintet and located in Cologne (NWDR, later WDR). First radio broadcast April 1952 in a small formation as Harald Banter Ensemble, later renamed to "Harald Banter Media Band". 30 years after its founding, the orchestra was disbanded by the radio station (WDR). The orchestra recorded about 5.000 tracks.