Beginning in September the 50-year-old Norwegian saxophonist, bandleader and arranger Geir Lysne, above, will be the new chief conductor of the NDR Big Band in Germany leading the Hamburg-based big band, for about 60 days per season. He’s to do the job for three years.

The big band director Lutz Marmor is quoted in the German press as saying that he sees Lysne as a provider of “new impetus” for the big band. Lysne has been a guest conductor with the orchestra for several years. Born in Trondheim, Lysne studied at the Norwegian Academy of Music and has worked there as a professor of composition. He leads his own big band, the Geir Lysne Listening Ensemble and his own compositional style embraces jazz, classical music and folk music from his homeland.