Steve Houben

Belgian virtuoso jazz saxophonist/flutist, and educator Steve Houben crossed paths with several Masters, a.o. Bill Frisell, Red Mitchell & Chet Baker.

Born in 1950 into a family of amateur musicians, he studied the flute before turning to the saxophone following the advice of his cousin, the famous Jacques Pelzer, who introduced him to the world of jazz.

In the mid-1970s, he studied at the Berklee College of Music in Boston and, upon his return, created (along with Henri Pousseur) the Jazz seminar at the Conservatoire de Liège; one of the first jazz schools in Europe. During this period, he toured Europe with American musicians he had met at Berklee and formed the group “Mauve Traffic” (with Bill Frisell, Greg Badolato, Kermit Driscoll, Michel Herr and Vinnie Johnson).

As freelance soloist, he performed with several jazz giants, including Gerry Mulligan. An eclectic artist, Steve has undertaken an enormous variety of work, from the “fusion” group Cocodrilo to contemporary music with Henri Pousseur. He’s been part of the Belgian-Tunisian group “Anfass” and the traditional European music group “Panta Rhei” of which he is the founder.He also recorded and toured extensively in duo with piano Master Charles Loos, and in trio with Loos and Belgian vocal hero Maurane.

In 2000, he was awarded the Django d’Or Prize for the best Belgian Jazz Artist.

As an educator, Steve Houben has taught saxophone at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels and, from 2012 to 2015, was Director of the Royal Conservatory of Liège.

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