Peter Herbolzheimer

Peter Herbolzheimer (* December 31 1935 in Bucharest) is a German jazz trombonist and bandleader.

Biography

Herbolzheimer migrated from comunist Romania to West Germany in 1951. In 1953 he moved to the United States of America, where he worked as guitarist. He returned to Germany in 1957, took up the trombone and for one year studied at Nuremberg Conservatory. In the 1960s he played with the Nuremberg radio dance orchestra and with Bert Kämpfert's orchestra. In 1968 he became member of the pit orchestra of Hamburg theater (Deutsches Schauspielhaus) directed by Hans Koller. In 1969 Herbolzheimer formed his "Rhythm Combination and Brass" (RB&C) for which he wrote most of the arrangements. This big band was unique in that it had an international lineup of eight brass, but originally only one saxophone, with Herb Geller in that chair. Brass players were amongst others Allan Botschinsky (Denmark), Art Farmer (USA), Dusko Goykovich (Bosnia), Palle Mikkelborg (Denmark), Ack van Rooyen (Netherlands) or Jiggs Whigham (USA). The rhythm section consisted of two keyboards, guitar, bass, drums and percussion and included renowned musicians such as Dieter Reith (Germany), Philip Catherine (Belgium), Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen (Denmark), Bo Stief (Denmark), Alex Riel (Denmark), Grady Tate (USA), and Nippy Noya (Indonesia). For special events the group was augmented as necessary, but the basic combination remained as such for several years. In the late 1970s the band toured successfully with a "jazz gala" program featuring guest stars like Esther Phillips, Stan Getz, Nat Adderley, Gerry Mulligan, Toots Thielemans, Clark Terry or Albert Mangelsdorff. In later years the "RC&B" played many concert tours, television shows and jazz festivals. It was later replaced by a regular sized big band that is still active today.

In 1972 Herbolzheimer wrote music for the Edelhagen Band's opening of the Olympic Games in Munich. Later he worked for German television as leader and arranger, and accompanied visiting American musicians such as Al Jarreau and Dizzy Gillespie. Between 1987 and 2006 Herbolzheimer was the musical director of Germany's national youth jazz orchestra, the "BundesJazzOrchester" (BuJazzo). He conducts regular workshops and clinics for big band jazz.

In 1974 Herbolzheimer's "Rhythm Combination & Brass" entered an annual television competition held in the Belgian seaside resort Knokke, winning the coveted "Golden Swan Award". He also won the "International Jazz Composers Competition 1974" in Monaco. Herbolzheimer's arrangements are a distinctive amalgam of swing, latin and rhythmic rock music.

Selected discography

* My Kind Of Sunshine, 1970/1971 (MPS)
* Wide Open, 1973 (MPS)
* Waitaminute, 1973 (MPS)
* Scenes, 1974 (MPS)
* Live im Onkel Pö, 1975 (Polydor)
* The Catfish, 1975
* Hip Walk, 1976 (Polydor)
* Jazz Gala Concert 1976 - Koala Reco (Bellaphon)
* Touch Down, 1977
* Jazz Gala 77 - Telefunken/Decca
* I hear Voices, 1978 (Polydor)
* Quality, 1978 (Acanto/Bellaphon)
* Jazz Gala Concert 79 - Rare Bid/Bellaphon
* Toots Suite - Alanna
* Dreißig Jahre - Live in Concert – Mons (SunnyMoon)
* Colours of a Band - Mons (SunnyMoon)
* Masterpieces - MPS-Record (Universal)
* Latin Groove, 1987 - Koala Reco (Bellaphon)
* Fat Man Boogie, 1981 - Koala Reco (Bellaphon)
* Fatman 2, 1983 - Koala Reco (Bellaphon)
* Bandfire, 1981 - Koala Reco (Bellaphon)
* Smile - Koala Reco (Bellaphon) )
* Friends and Silhouettes - Koala Reco (Bellaphon)
* Big Band Bebop, 1984 - Koala/Bellaphon
* More Bebop, 1984 - Koala
* Colors of a Band, 1995 (with Dianne Reeves)

References/External links

* [http://www.peterherbolzheimer.de Website] (German)
* [http://www.jazzinstitut.de/Jazzindex/index-herbolzheimer-peter.htm Biography and bibliography]