Michel HERR : bands

Michel HERR : bands
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MICHEL HERR BANDS

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MICHEL HERR TRIO
MICHEL HERR EUROPEAN QUINTET
MICHEL HERR & UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTERS (Quintet + string quartet)
MICHEL HERR / FABRICE ALLEMAN / PETER HERTMANS TRIO

1. MICHEL HERR TRIO

Michel HERR, piano, composer

Philippe AERTS or Frans VAN DER HOEVEN, acoustic bass (NL)

Dré PALLEMAERTS, drums

Michel, Philippe Aerts, Dré (photo Jacky Lepage)

Three musicians who have an exceptional background : the list of the famous soloists they have worked with is really impressive. Here, they form a trio of international format to present Michel's original compositions.

The trio CD : Michel HERR "Intuitions" (Igloo CD IGL 073) received in 89 the Jazz Critics Award of Best Belgian Jazz Album of the Year. And the French jazz magazine Jazz Hot gave it its maximum rate : "5 spots".

FOR PRESS REVIEWS : see the CD page of "Intuitions".

2. MICHEL HERR EUROPEAN QUINTET

Bert JORIS, trumpet/flugelhorn (B)

Wolfgang ENGSTFELD, tenor sax (D)

Michel HERR, piano, composer (B)

Riccardo DEL FRA, Philippe AERTS or Frans VAN DER HOEVEN, acoustic bass

Dré PALLEMAERTS, drums (B)

Dré, Bert, Michel, Riccardo, Wolfgang (photos courtesy of Jacky Lepage. Visit his virtual gallery)

A recent project of Belgian pianist/composer Michel HERR.
It is not by accident that he surrounds himself with these four jazz musicians of international format.
Known as four first rate soloists, they gather in full complicity with the pianist's compositions. This new band opens up new dimensions in his music.
A demanding search for quality, as well in the selection of the musicians as in the writing of the themes, makes Michel HERR's specificity on the European scene.
Creativity, interaction, rich harmonic colours and melodies are combined with energy and swing.
A good example of the maturity of European jazz, a unique blend of the subtle lyricism of the European sensitivity with the infectious "drive" of American jazz.

The Michel HERR EUROPEAN QUINTET made very successful appearances a.o. during the '97 Jazz Middelheim Festival, in Antwerp (radio broadcast), the '98 Liège festival (radio) and the St. Roch festival in September '98, Frameries & Gaume Jazz in '99, Festival van Vlaanderen 2000, several French festivals, such as Django Reinhardt Festival in Samois, Langourla etc...
End '98 saw the release of the first and acclaimed CD of the quintet, "Notes of Life" (Igloo Igl 142).
In October 2002, the quintet appears at the Ciney Jazz Night for an exceptional "Tribute to Chet Baker".

FOR PRESS REVIEWS : see the CD page of "Notes of Life".

3. MICHEL HERR "UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTERS" (9 Musicians)

the MICHEL HERR EUROPEAN QUINTET :

Bert, Dré, Michel, Wolfgang, Riccardo + string quartet. (photo Jacky Lepage)

Bert JORIS, trumpet/flugelhorn (B)

Wolfgang ENGSTFELD, tenor sax (D)

Michel HERR, piano, composer (B)

Riccardo DEL FRA or Frans VAN DER HOEVEN, acoustic bass (I)

Dré PALLEMAERTS, drums (B)

+ STRING QUARTET ( HELIOTROPE QUARTET : see their web site)

An unexpected encounter. This unusual ensemble originated from a commission offered to pianist/composer Michel Herr by the Belgian television network BRTN, to write an original piece for the 97 Italia Prize of the European televisions.
He came up with the proposal to associate his European Quintet with a string quartet.
It became Unexpected Encounters. The ensemble received the name of this first composition.
Building upon the success of this first step, the composer wrote a complete repertoire for this new band.
The premiere concert of Unexpected Encounters took place in August 96, at the occasion of the Bellone/Brigittines Festival, in Brussels, and met an enthusiastic response.
Michel HERR, internationally known for his talents as a jazz pianist/composer/arranger, signs here original music that really sustains the attention with a definitely personal approach.
The repertoire composed for this group is a kaleidoscope of contrasting sounds. The colours of the string instruments underline the harmonic subtleties and the richness of the compositions.
Five impressive European soloists plus a string quartet (four members of the "Orchestre Philharmonique de Liège") in a new creation. Lyrical melodies, but also energy and swing.

The band appeared a.o. during the '99 Gaume Jazz Festival (radio recording) and at the Liège Jazz Festival in 2000 (radio recording).

THE PRESS :

One will remember the beautiful ensemble sound, one more proof of the qualities of arranger of the pianist, whose energetic side expressed itself mostly in the quintet moments. (Le Soir, André Joassin)

Sublimated by this classical presence, our pianist delivered beautiful moments of fragile intensity. (Une Autre Chanson, Francis Chenot)

This current project of Michel Herr is of international class. This ensemble of high quality should be more reckognized by the cultural world. (Jean-Pierre Bissot, organizer of Gaume Jazz Festival)

The string quartet gives to the compositions a profound blend that pleases the ear and contributes to the universe of the pianist. Le Vif/L'Express, Philippe Cornet)

Constance is one of the multiple qualities of pianist Michel Herr. A typically European project, between improvisation and stuctures from classical music. (J@zz@round & le Matin)

Michel avoided the trap of mixing jazz with classical. It can work out beautiful or it could turn out as a flop. He writes wonderful music and is a stunning pianist. German tenor sax Wolfgang Engstfeld and trumpeter Bert Joris contribute enormously. Herr composes specifically for his musicians, thus allowing for their style and way of playing but also leaving plenty of free space. Michel Herr's music, once again, reminded me why I love jazz. (Netbeat news, Ilan Oz)

4. MICHEL HERR / FABRICE ALLEMAN / PETER HERTMANS TRIO

Michel HERR, piano

Fabrice ALLEMAN, soprano sax

Peter HERTMANS, guitar

A new formula, presented for the first time on the occasion of a live concert on Belgian radio RTBF Musique 3.
Without bass, without drums, the trio relies on the strong individualities of its soloists, considered among the very best of Belgium, and on a rich selection of compositions, mostly written by Michel HERR, but also with contributions by Peter HERTMANS and Fabrice ALLEMAN.
The band achieves an delicate balance between carefully selected material and sophisticated arrangements on one hand and a creative, adventurous approach on the other hand, a recipe that keeps things freshs and allows plenty of room for the impredictible.
A trio of international format, sometimes introverted, sometimes extraverted, and able of swinging while keeping a definite European touch.