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Michel Herr

Born in Brussels (B), Michel Herr has built in parallel a rich career as a pianist, a composer and an arranger. As a pianist, Michel Herr has played with renown jazz soloists : Joe Henderson, Chet Baker, Archie Shepp, Bill Frisell, Joe Lovano, Charlie Mariano, Johnny Griffin, Slide Hampton, Art Farmer, Lee Konitz, John Abercrombie, Billy Hart, Philip Catherine, Daniel Humair, Aldo Romano, Palle Danielsson, Norma Winstone, Riccardo Del Fra, Richard Galliano, François Jeanneau, Paolo Fresu, etc…, as well a the cream of the Belgian jazz scene. For almost 2 decades, he played with Toots Thielemans in the whole world. Michel Herr led several bands (trio, quintet, nonet and big band), in which he played his numerous compositions. He is also an internationally renown composer and arranger. In 1988 he receives the Monaco Jazz Composition Prize. His compositions and arrangements earned him an international fame. Besides his own groups, they have been played by prestigious European jazz orchestras (big bands of the WDR, NDR, Brussels Jazz Orchestra, Metropole Orchestra, etc...) and by ensembles of various formats (chamber, strings, symphony, choir, etc...)

2008 sees the release of a big band double album of his compositions played by the Brussels Jazz Orchestra, titled « The Music of Michel Herr ». More collaborations with that orchestra followed up : with vocalist David Linx and « We have a dream » (2017/2018), a project with South African vocalist Tutu Puoane, which was presented worldwide (a.o. at the Lincoln Center in New York).

Currently, Michel Herr has refocused his activities on writing (compositions and arrangements) and is frequently asked to write for jazz projects involving large ensembles. The Metropole Orchestra (NL) and Ivan Paduart recorded his arrangements for the album « Crush ».

In Switzerland, he arranges the album « Colors of time », (a suite by Thierry Lang) for David Linx, choir and chamber orchestra.

In 2017, he signs compositions and arrangements for the album of saxophonist Fabrice Alleman, « Udiverse », with chamber orchestra (30 musicians).

He collaborated with the « Orchestre Royal de Chambre de Wallonie » for the « String project » album of guitarist Philip Catherine (Echo Jazz Award in Germany).

In 2019, the cd « Michel Herr – Positive / Music for sextet and String quartet » proposes 9 compositions for 11 musicians. This project was presented in several festvals.

In recent years, he wrote several compositions and arrangements for ensembles of various formats, big bands, string ensembles, etc. For the 8 cellos ensemble "O celli" and their latest album "O Celli in America", he wrote "Duke's magic", a medley of Duke Elligton's music. Besides, he wrote arrangements for jazz ensemble a.o. on compositions by Hermeto Pascoal (played by Hamiton de Holanda, Grégoire Maret & David Linx), a composition for the latest album of saxophonist Fabrice Alleman with guitarist Philip Catherine, etc.

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Album Review

Michel Herr: Positive: Music For Sextet And String Quartet

Read "Positive: Music For Sextet And String Quartet" reviewed by Ian Patterson


Although perhaps best known as a jazz pianist who has worked with the likes of Archie Shepp, Bill Frisell, Philip Catherine, Joe Lovano, Zbigniew Seifert and Toots Thielemans, Michel Herr has long enjoyed a parallel career as a conductor / musical director, and as an arranger for cinema, television and radio productions. It is in these latter, guiding roles, that Herr steers a sextet of some of Belgium's finest jazz musicians, plus a string quartet, through a programme of his ...

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59

Event

Members of Los Mua Equitos de Matanzas and Michel Herrera from Cuba to Perform at Fundraiser May 18 Benefiting the Chico O'Farrill School of Jazz

Members of Los Mua Equitos de Matanzas and Michel Herrera from Cuba to Perform at Fundraiser May 18 Benefiting the Chico O'Farrill School of Jazz

Source: Two for the Show Media

NEW YORK—The Afro Latin Jazz Alliance announced today that members of Cuba's legendary Los Muñequitos de Matanzas, as well as Cuban saxophonist Michel Herrera, will perform at its fundraiser benefiting the Chico O'Farrill School of Jazz (COSJ) to be held Wednesday, May 18, 2011 at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City from 6-9PM. Los Muñequitos de Matanzas, Cuba's premiere Afro-Cuban folkloric group, recently concluded a three-day residency at Symphony Space in their first visit to New York since 2002. ...

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Recording

New Album of the Brussels Jazz Orchestra: "The Music of Michel Herr"

New Album of the Brussels Jazz Orchestra: "The Music of Michel Herr"

Source: All About Jazz

The Brussels Jazz Orchestra, one of Europe's most respected big bands, has a new album out, titled The Music of Michel Herr. It offers a wide overview of the music for big band written in recent years by the Belgian pianist, composer and arranger Michel Herr, who also conducted the band during the recording sessions. Released on February 22, 2008 by the Belgian label Werf, the double cd features 9 single pieces and 2 suites, some rich and interesting writing ...

Michel Herr is delivering another masterpiece, combining his composing/arranging skills with the talents of great improvisers, and a string quartet. "
Philippe Baron, radio host on RTBF radio (B)

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"In the end, however, it is Herr's arrangements - the deft application of strings to a straight-ahead jazz setting, the balance between solo and ensemble voices - that makes the greatest impression.
Stringed instruments haven't always featured prominently in jazz, but they have been there since the beginning of the story..

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Primary Instrument

Composer / conductor

Clinic/Workshop Information

Big band clinics with his own compositions.

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Positive: Music For...

Igloo Records
2019

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Fabrice Alleman &...

Cypres Records
2017

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Thierry Lang feat....

Musiques Suisses
2013

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Ivan Paduart &...

Mons Records
2010

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The Music of Michel...

W.E.R.F. Records
2008

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