Michel Herr

Michel Herr (born 16 February 1949, Brussels) is a Belgian pianist, composer and arranger active in the fields of jazz and film music. Since the seventies he has been active on the European Jazz scene. He appeared on numerous jazz albums as a pianist and arranger.

Since 1984, he regularly played piano and keyboards with harmonica player Toots Thielemans. He performed with him throughout the world (Europe, Japan, Africa, U.S.), played many major festivals and participated in many records, TV shows and film soundtracks.

Michel Herr had the opportunity to play with great American musicians like Joe Lovano, Chet Baker, Lee Konitz, Art Farmer, Joe Henderson, Johnny Griffin, Pepper Adams, Bill Frisell, as well as many top European musicians, such as Palle Mikkelborg, Riccardo Del Fra, Palle Danielsson, Richard Galliano and the best Belgian musicians: Philip Catherine, Steve Houben, Bert Joris and others.

He led several bands, from the trio to the big band, a.o. a European quintet with Wolfgang Engstfeld (sax) and Bert Joris (tp), a nonet named "Life Lines", etc... in which he presented his compositions. He wrote for numerous jazz ensembles : WDR Big Band, ACT big Band, the Brussels Jazz Orchestra (a.o. with singer David Linx, the Metropole Orchestra (NL), etc...

2008 sees the release of a double album of his big band compositions with the Brussels Jazz Orchestra, "The Music of Michel Herr".

Other major achievements as an arranger :

• The album "Crush" : 6 arrangements for the Metropole Orchestra on the music of Ivan Paduart (2010)

• "Colors of Time" : 13 arrangements on music by Thierry Lang, lyrics by David Linx, performed by 5 jazzmen, a choir and a string ensemble (2012)

He is also active in the field of film music ("Just Friends")