Biography

Peter Herbert

Born Leap Day of 1960 in Bludenz, Austria

Bassist Peter Herbert has been living in Paris since 2003 and in Vienna since 2007 (in New York from 1989-2003) and leads a busy schedule with an average of 100 concerts annually performing throughout the world. 

Trained as a classical pianist/bassist, after years of successful ‚main stream‘ jazz activities, he is now developing his own voice in the field of improvised music. Recent activities include solo concerts, in 2002 in New York (Glassfarm), London (The Vortex), Moscow (The Dome), Vienna (Porgy&Bess), a.m.o. (CD: ‚Naked Bass‘ ) and a focus on small ensembles like his duos with David Tronzo (CD: Segmente, AZM 1001), Carol Robinson (bass-clarinette/electronics) or his Parisian Trio with Jean-Charles Richard (sax) and Christophe Marguet(dr), He is also involved in arabic music with artists like oud-master Marcel Khalife or Simon Shaheen.

Herbert is also a prolific and versatile composer, mostly commissioned by European orchestras and ensembles. He has written for orchestras, choirs and chamber groups, designed experimental movie soundtracks and incidental music for European avant-garde theatre groups (Cd:Aktionstheater Ensemble 2000 music for theater, AZM 102).

As a Jazz musician, he has worked with many artists and groups such as the John Abercrombie/Marc Copland Quartet, Bobby Previte’s „The Horse“, John Clark Octet, Art Farmer and Woody Shaw. His work has been well documented on over 170 recordings (please see COMPLETE  DISCOGRAPHY).

Herbert was recently awarded the Hans Koller-prize as ‚musician of the year‘ This prize is given to a jury chosen person, who had ’significant impact on the Austrian music scene for a long time‘. He also established his own internet-based label Aziza Music in 1999.

Herbert is teaching a small bassclass at the Anton-Bruckner Privat University in Linz/Austria since 2007.

Education

1987-1989: Berklee College of Music, Boston; Bachelor of Music in Bass performance summa cum laude
1981-1986: College for Music, Graz, Austria; diploma in Bass performance with distinction
1976-1979: Conservatory for Music, Bregenz, Austria

Performances – Jazz and Jazz-related Music

Concerts/performances/recordings in Europe, Japan, North Africa, the Middle East and the US with Marcel Khalife (2000-present), Chris Culpo Trio (2003 – present), Eric Watson Trio (2005 – present), Joachim Kühn (2005 – present) , Marc Copland/John Abercrombie Quartet with Billy Hart (97-99), Bobby Previte’s „The Horse“ (95-98), the Vienna Art Orchestra (92), the Aydin Esen Group (89-96), the Wolfgang Muthspiel Trio (86-89),the Christian Muthspiel Trio (’94), the Art Farmer Quintet (in NYC 91/92), Art Blakeys Jazzmessengers (’86), the Tone Jansa Quintett featuring Woody Shaw (85/86), Paul Smoker/Phil Haynes „Double Trio“ (91) and performances with musicians like Sheila Jordan, George Garzone, Alex Deutsch, Mick Goodrick, Lewis Nash, Joe Calderazzo, Gene Calderazzo, Mordy Ferber, Wolfgang Muthspiel, Ben Monder, Tom Rainey, Joe Diorio, Tony Trishka, Tom McKinley, Jeff Williams, Bob Moses, Fred Hersch, Jerry Bergonzi, Kenny Werner, Richie Beirach, John Clark, Robin Eubanks, Richie Cole, Peter Erskine, Gene Jackson, Marc Copland, John Abercrombie, Billy Hart, Christine Tobin, Phil Robson, Kenny Wheeler, Steve Rudolph, Daniel Humair, Steve Shehan, Jamey Haddad, Skuli Sverrisson, Theo Bleckmann, Paul Simon, Franz Koglmann, Andy Manndorff, Wolfgang Reisinger, Hannes Löschel, Simon Shaheen, Marcle Khalife, Paul Skrepek, Klaus Dickbauer, Steve Lacy, Christoph Kurzmann, Philip Jeck, Johannes Barthelmes, Sunny Simmons, ‚Little‘ Jimmy Scott, Kenny Drew jr., David Taylor, Daniel Schnyder, Wolfgang Mitterer, Lucas Niggli, Claudio Puntin, Samuel Rohrer, Mino Cinelu, Joe Chambers, Ed Neumeister, Karl Ratzer, Howard Curtis, Rudy Royston, Sorey Tyshawn, Vladimir Tarasov and many others.

people, Peter Herbert had the honor of working with or having met and are no longer among us:

Art Farmer, Clifford Jordan, Kenny Drew, Art Blakey, Woody Shaw, Thomas Chapin, Danilo Terenzi, Bob Berg, Baly Othmani, Bumi Fian, Bill Black, David Baker (the engineer), Michael Brecker, Alexandra Montano, Mahmoud Darwich, Mary Gardener, Aldo Kreml, Ed Renshaw, Fritz Pauer, Ahmad Mansour, „Little“ Jimmy Scott, Kenny Wheeler, Keith Copland, Clark Terry, Robert ‚Pizi‘ Polak, Heinrich Schiff, John Abercrombie, Andy Manndorf, Kevin Mahogany, Ekkehard Muther, Thomasz Stanko, Erich Kleinschuster, Zipflo Weinrich, Uli Scherer, Bosko Petrovic, Uwe Werner, Hans-Georg Schmeiser, Karl-Heinz Miklin, Andy Scherer, Herbert Joos, Vic Juris, Wallace Rooney, Bob Gullotti, Henry Grimes, George Crumb, Uli Rennert, Ismael Ivo, Heimo Puschnigg, Thomas Stempkowski, Gerhard Crepaz, Herbert Uhlir, Bassam Saba, Sonny Simmons, Harold Winkel, Toni Stricker, Rubina Möhring, Paul Hille, Hermann Nitsch, Willi Resetarits, Adelhard Roidinger, Wolfgang Reisinger, Heimo Steps, Harry Neuwirth, Wolfgang Fetz, Mick Goodrick, Tony Coe, Renald Deppe, Werner Korn, Bodo Hell, Martin France,

Performance – Contemporary Music

Featured soloist on recording of Henry Wolkin composition for Trio and The London Symphony Orchestra (June 1996);
Tom McKinley’s Golden Petals double concerto for bass and soprano saxophone featuring Richard Nunemaker and members of the Houston Symphony;
Janice Misurell Mitchell’s Alone Together duet for bass and bass clarinet featuring Richard Nunemaker (both in Houston, Texas and at Carnegie Hall, New York — CD Golden Petals, Richard Nunemaker, MMC Records).

Featured soloist with the Camerata Bregenz Tour in Austria (March 1994) with 4 contemporary bass concertos/pieces.

Featured soloist in original works such as 100 Y’s (string quartet plus ADAT tape) and difficulties (piece for three choirs and bass solo) and Communications Error for Nonet (CD ensemble plus, ORF Austria) and Musique humaine with the Koehne string quartet.