Michel Herr
©Photography / Jacky Lepage
piano, keyboards, composer, arranger
Belgium
Belgian Master jazz pianist/composer/arranger Michel Herr has developed a personal, immediately recognizable style and sound both as a pianist, and as a composer/arranger.
Born in Brussels (Belgium), Michel Herr has built in parallel a career as a jazz pianist and as a composer/arranger.
As a pianist, he had the opportunity to play with numerous renowned jazz musicians, such as Chet Baker, Joe Lovano, Joe Henderson, Bill Frisell, Archie Shepp, Art Farmer, Johnny Griffin, Pepper Adams, John Abercrombie, etc…
He also played with the cream of European and Belgian jazz musicians.
He accompanied Toots Thielemans for almost two decades in the whole world.
Michel Herr has also been active as a composer and arranger and gained an international reputation in that field.
He wrote for his own bands (trio, quintet, nonet, etc…) as well as for prestigious European ensembles, a.o. the WDR, NDR Big Bands, the Metropole Orchestra, the Brussels Jazz Orchestra, as well as for ensembles of various formats : strings, chamber and symphony orchestras, choir, etc…
Michel Herr also wrote music scores for movies (“Just Friends”) and television (“Long Distance”).
He has an impressive discography (more than 100 albums) as a pianist (leader or sideman) but also as a composer and arranger.
Among others : trio, quartet & quintet albums, “The Music of Michel Herr”, a double CD of his compositions for jazz big band recorded with the Brussels Jazz Orchestra and “Positive”, which features his music for sextet and string quartet and for which he received the Sabam Jazz Award in 2020.
Artist on GAM Records
Meggie
Arranged by award-winning, world class composer/pianist Michel Herr, this Belgian all-stars band takes us on tour of Bebop, Cool and Hard Bop memory lane with much passion and warmth.
Waitin’ for You
This Belgian Jazz All Stars quintet plays original compositions and arrangements on jazz standards with much originality, lightness and a deep understanding of the various styles of jazz history.