Michel Herr

Michel Herr
Background information
Born (1949-02-16) 16 February 1949 (age 75)
OriginBrussels, Belgium
Instrument(s)Piano, keyboards, composer, arranger
Years active1970–present
Websitewww.michelherr.com

Michel Herr (born 16 February 1949 in Brussels) is a Belgian jazz pianist, composer and arranger. In addition to releasing jazz albums, composing for jazz ensembles and touring widely as a performing musician, he has also composed scores for films. As a bandleader he founded several bands: Solis Lacus, Michel Herr European Quintet, Michel Herr & Unexpected Encounters. He is also a music producer.

In 2020 he was awarded the Prix Sabam for Culture – Compositeur de Jazz 2019 for his album Positive / Music for sextet and string quartet (Igloo Records, 2019).[1]

Selected works

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Albums as a leader or co-leader

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  • Positive / Music for sextet and string quartet (2019)
  • Jazz Olympics (1 track in tentet with Michel & Life Lines) (2008)
  • The Music of Michel Herr (with the Brussels Jazz Orchestra) (2008)
  • A tribute to Belgian Jazz (1998)
  • Notes of life (1998) (Quintet)
  • Just friends (Michel Herr & Archie Shepp)(1993) (movie soundtrack)
  • Meet Curtis Lundy & Kenny Washington (Steve Houben & Michel Herr) (1983)
  • Intuitions (1989) (trio)
  • Short stories (1982) (with Wolfgang Engstfeld)
  • Continuous flow (1980) (Engstfeld / Herr / Danielsson / Lowe)
  • Good buddies (1979) (with Bill Frisell)
  • Perspective (1978) (with Wolfgang Engstfeld)
  • Ouverture éclair (1977) (Michel Herr Trio)
  • Solis Lacus (1975)

Albums as a piano player, composer, arranger, etc... (a selection)

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  • O Celli in America (8 cellists. Arranger of an Ellington medley) (2022)
  • The black days sessions (Daniel Romeo/Arranger) (2020)
  • We have a dream (Tutu Puoane & Brussels Jazz Orchestra/ Arranger) (2018)
  • Udiverse (Fabrice Alleman & Chamber orchestra/Arranger & composer) (2017)
  • The string project (Philip Catherine/ Arranger) (2016) Echo Jazz Award 2016 (D)
  • Colors of Time (Thierry Lang & David Linx/ Arranger) (2013)
  • Crush (Ivan Paduart & the Metropole Orchestra/ Arranger) (2010)
  • Let me hear a simple song (Radoni's Tribe / Arranger) (2009)
  • Jazz Olympics (1 track feat. David Linx / Brussels Jazz Orchestra) (2008)
  • Changing Faces (1 track feat. David Linx / Brussels Jazz Orchestra) (2007)
  • Sides of Life (Fabrice Alleman) (2004)
  • Restless (Jean-Pierre Catoul / Peter Hertmans) (1999)
  • The live takes (Toots Thielemans) (1999)
  • En public (Phil Abraham Quartet) (1997)
  • O brilho do Sol (Marito Correa) (1996)
  • Intensive Act" (Félix Simtaine) (1996)
  • L'affaire (Vladimir Cosma/Toots Thielemans, movie soundtrack) (1994)
  • Loop the loop (Fabrice Alleman Quartet) (1993)
  • Take it from the top (Denise Jannah) (1991)
  • Bim bim (Bruno Castellucci) (1987)
  • Extremes (Act Big Band and guests) (1987)
  • Solid Steps (Joe Lovano) (1986)
  • Transparence (Philip Catherine) (1986)
  • Sweet seventina (Bert Joris) (1985)
  • Your precious love (Toots Thielemans) (1984)
  • Soon spring (John Ruocco) (1983)
  • Steve Houben + strings (1982)
  • Act Big Band (1981)
  • Remembering Bobby Jaspar and Rene Thomas (Saxo 1000) (1980)
  • Dom Rocket (Gijs Hendriks Quartet) (1979)
  • Live in Solothurn (Zbigniew Seifert Variospheres) (rec. 1976, released on cd in 2017)

As a composer, arranger for movies

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  • Le Scoop (Jean-Louis Colmant) (1977) (TV)
  • La Mésaventure (Freddy Charles) (1980) (TV)
  • Les Fugitifs (Freddy Charles) (1981) (TV)
  • San Francisco (Freddy Charles) (1982) (TV)
  • Les Magiciens du mercredi (Freddy Charles) (1984) (TV)
  • Just Friends (Marc-Henri Wajnberg) (1993)
  • Éclats de famille (Didier Grousset) (1994) (TV)
  • Les Monos / Le responsable (Didier Grousset) (1999) (TV)
  • Le Coup du lapin (Didier Grousset) (2000) (TV)
  • Odette Toulemonde (Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt) (Nicola Piovani) (arranger/orchestrator of Joséphine Baker songs) (2007)
  • Un crime très populaire (Didier Grousset) (2007) (TV)

References

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  1. ^ "Michel Herr remporte le Prix Sabam for Culture "Jazz" 2019". sabam.be. 14 December 2020. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
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