"United" or "UJRE") developed from a group of jazz musicians that was formed for a 1974 to 1975 television show[1] of Süddeutscher Rundfunk (South German Broadcasting).

The group played mostly original compositions ranging from jazz to rock.

Charlie Mariano's experience with Indian music occasionally brought in ethnic elements.

[1] Among the reasons was Barbara Thompson's suffering from Parkinson's disease.

The final cast of 2002 was Wolfgang Dauner (piano), Barbara Thompson (saxophone), Jon Hiseman (drums), Dave King (bass), Ian Carr (trumpet), Volker Kriegel (guitar), Rüdiger Baldauf (trumpet), Ack van Rooyen (trumpet, fluegelhorn), Albert Mangelsdorff (trombone), Christof Lauer (saxophone) Former members include Eberhard Weber, bass, Kenny Wheeler, trumpet, Johannes Faber, trumpet, Charlie Mariano, saxophone and ethnic instruments, Thorsten Benkenstein, trumpet, Peter O'Mara, guitar.