Thomas Heberer (musician)

Thomas Heberer (born September 24, 1965, in Schleswig, Germany[1]) is a trumpeter, quarter-tone trumpeter, cornetist, keyboardist and composer, primarily focused on jazz, creative improvised music and contemporary chamber music. Based in New York City, he currently works as a leader and sideman in a variety of bands in Europe and the US.[2]

For other people named Thomas Heberer, see Thomas Heberer (disambiguation).

Thomas Heberer in 2010

Education

Heberer began playing trumpet at the age of 11.[1] From 1984 to 1987, he studied at conservatory with Manfred Schoof[3] at the Cologne University of Music.

Notable projects: 1987 to present

Leader

Heberer leads several projects, including past and present:

• Lip Lab, a trio with Carl Ludwig Hübsch on tuba and Christian Thomé on drums. The group released Lex Luna[4] on JazzHausMusik in 2007.
• Clarino, a trio with clarinettist Joachim Badenhorst and bassist Pascal Niggenkemper, released two albums: Klippe[5] in 2011 (Clean Feed) and 2012's Cookbook[6] (Red Toucan).

Solo work

Thomas has recorded and performed solo. Notable recordings include: The Heroic Millipede[7] in 1988 (ITM); "Kill Yr Darlins"[8] in 1997 (Poise); two albums on the Poise label under the pseudonym T.O.M.: Stella[9] in 2001 and Mouth[10] in 2003; the digitally released Sloops in 2007; and a vinyl-only release called One[11] on NoBusiness Records in 2011.

His solo work has been used for films and dance performances, including for two choreographies by Pina Bausch. Choreographer Bausch's Für die Kinder von gestern, heute and morgen[12] (2002) uses a track from "Stella" called German Measles; Bausch's Ten Chi[13] (2004), uses a track called Blue" from the album Mouth.

Wim Wenders used "Blue" in Pina,[14] which was nominated for an Academy Award in 2011 for Best Documentary Feature.[15]

"Blue" and "German Measles" were both used in Pina Bausch,[16] a documentary directed by Anne Linsel (WDR/Arte) in 2006 and re-released by the Goethe-Institut in 2012 (IN2998).

ICP and other ensembles

Thomas has been a member of the Instant Composers Pool (ICP) Orchestra[17] from 1993[18] to present. Founded by Misha Mengelberg, Han Bennink and Willem Breuker, ICP currently comprises Han Bennink, Michael Moore, Ab Baars, Tobias Delius, Wolter Wierbos, Guus Janssen, Mary Oliver, Tristan Honsinger, and Ernst Glerum.[19]

During Heberer's involvement, the band has recorded numerous albums for hatOLOGY[20] and ICP,[21] and performed extensively around the world including tours in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Europe, Japan, US.[22] Notable US performances with ICP include the Library of Congress,[23] Harvard University, and the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco.

From 1987 to 2000, Heberer was a member of Alexander von Schlippenbach's Berlin Contemporary Jazz Orchestra,[24] which at the time included Evan Parker, Kenny Wheeler, Aki Takase, Paul Lovens and others. During his involvement, the Orchestra recorded three albums for ECM,[25] FMP[26] and DIW,[27] and performed in Europe and Japan.

Heberer was a member of Tome XX[28] with saxophonist Dirk Raulf, bassist Tim Wells (1987-1989), bassist, Dieter Manderscheid (1990-1996), and drummer Fritz Wittek. From 1987 to 1996, the band recorded four albums under the JazzHausMusik label, touring across Europe, Africa, and South America.

From 1988 to 1996, Heberer was a member of the European Jazz Ensemble,[29] along with Joachim Kühn, Gerd Dudek, Konrad Bauer, Charlie Mariano, Tony Levin and others. In addition to performing across Europe, he is included on two recordings from the time: "Meets the Khan Family" (MA Music) and "20th Anniversary Tour" (Konnex).

Heberer received significant attention[1] in 1990 with his release of the album Chicago Breakdown: The Music of Jelly Roll Morton, recorded with bassist Dieter Manderscheid.[30] The Penguin Guide to Jazz gave Chicago Breakdown four stars, the publication's highest rating, citing it "highly recommended."[31] Heberer and Manderscheid went on to record two more duo albums: What a Wonderful World (2002), in recognition for the centenary of Louis Armstrong, and Wanderlust (2007), a reflection on American blues music. What a Wonderful World was critically acclaimed and received four out of five stars in Down Beat.[32] As a duo, Heberer and Manderscheid have performed across Europe, Asia, and the US.

In 2013, Thomas and longtime collaborator Achim Kaufmann released their first recording[33] on Red Toucan called Knoten,[34] followed by a second recording with Ken Filiano joining Kaufmann and Heberer, called Interstices on NuScope Recordings[35] in 2015.

In 2014, Heberer replaced the late Roy Campbell in the Nu Band, which comprises Mark Whitecage, Joe Fonda, and Lou Grassi; they toured Europe in 2014, 2016 and 2017. Two recordings were issued on Not Two Records: The Cosmological Constant[36] (2015) and Live in Geneva[37] (2017).

Sideman

Thomas participates as a sideman in numerous ensembles and recordings with leaders such as Muhal Richard Abrams, Peter Brötzmann, Han Bennink, Eugene Chadbourne, Dave Douglas, Joe Fonda, Frank Gratkowski, Barry Guy, Christoph Haberer, Gabriele Hasler, Joe Hertenstein, Guus Janssen, Maria João, Paul van Kemenade, Yoni Kretzmer, Misha Mengelberg, Butch Morris, Bob Moses, Alphonse Mouzon, David Murray, Sunny Murray, Michael Riessler, Alexander von Schlippenbach, Andreas Schmidt, Frank Schulte, Elliott Sharp, Norbert Stein, Steve Swell, Aki Takase, Attila Zoller, John Zorn.[1]

Harald Schmidt

Thomas served as a member of the regular band supporting German talk show host and entertainer Harald Schmidt from 1995 to 2007.[38] He was also featured as a guest[39] several times including for the Miles Davis episode on November 22, 2002.

From 1995 to 2003 the show aired four times a week for the German SAT1 private television channel. From 2005 to 2007, the show was performed 2 times per week for ARD, Germany's national television channel.

Critical reception

Die Zeit critic Konrad Heidkamp called him "the master of German trumpet,"[40] The Penguin Guide to Jazz said "outstandingly gifted,"[31] the Rowohlt Jazz Lexikon credits him with having "developed a unique trumpet style,"[1] and colleague Alexander von Schlippenbach named him "our new trumpet genius."[41]

Teaching

From 1993 to 1997, Thomas lectured at the music conservatory Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst in Frankfurt-Main, Germany.

He has conducted numerous workshops with the ICP Orchestra (among others, the 2007 Banff International Workshop in Jazz and Creative Music[42] in Alberta, Canada) as well as for the Goethe-Institut in South America, Asia and Africa.

Thomas compiles a regularly updated summary on trumpet techniques called Trumpet Mechanics.

Concepts

In addition to using regular staff paper for his compositions, Heberer has developed a notation code that he calls "Cookbook." Cookbook is an instant composition method, which allows for a high amount of freedom on the musicians' side while allowing significant structural tools on the composer's side as well. It does so by implementing the idea of instant memory shaped according to a specific set of rules.

His website gives the Cookbook semantics and several examples of scores.

Awards and recognition

• SWR-Jazzpreis, 1990[43]
• Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik, Vierteljahresliste, 1990, for "Chicago Breakdown: The Music of Jelly Roll Morton" with Dieter Manderscheid[43]
• Jazz-Art Preis in 2002, for "What a Wonderful World" with Dieter Manderscheid[43]
• Winner of DownBeat Critics TDWR Poll Award in 2002, for Instant Composers Pool (ICP) Orchestra
• Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik, Jahrespreis 2004,[44] for the Aki Takase Band "Plays Fats Waller"
• Finalist in DownBeat 58th Annual Critics Poll 2010,[45] for Instant Composers Pool (ICP) Orchestra

Select discography

Ensemble/Artist	Title	Year	Label
Norbert Stein	Die Fünf Tage	1987	JazzHausMusik (JHM 31)
Thomas Heberer	The Heroic Millipede	1988	ITM Records (ITM 1443)
Tome XX	Natura Morta	1988	JazzHausMusik (JHM 32)
Berlin Contemporary Jazz Orchestra	Berlin Contemporary Jazz Orchestra	1989	ECM (ECM 1409)
Thomas Heberer, Dieter Manderscheid	Chicago Breakdown: The Music of Jelly Roll Morton	1990	JazzHausMusik (JHM 38)
Norbert Stein	Die Wilden Pferde Der Armen Leute	1990	JazzHausMusik (JHM 39)
Tome XX	The Red Snapper	1991	JazzHausMusik (JHM 47)
European Jazz Ensemble	Meets the Kahn Family	1992	MA Music (A 807-2)
Sotto in Su	Südamerika Sept. 90	1992	JazzHausMusik (JHM 51)
David Murray	Baltic Suite	1993	GOWI (CDG 05)
Berlin Contemporary Jazz Orchestra	The Morlocks and Other Pieces	1994	FMP (FMP 61)
Tome XX	Third Degree	1994	JazzHausMusik (JHM 63)
Christoph Haberer	Pulsation	1994	JazzHausMusik (JHM 66)
European Trumpet Summit	European Trumpet Summit	1994	Konnex (KCD 5064)
Frank Schulte	Switchbox	1994	No Man's Land (NML 9421)
Jazzensemble des Hessischen Rundfunks	Atmospheric Conditions Permitting	1995	ECM (ECM 1549)
Gabriele Hasler	Rosenstücke	1996	Foolish Music (211 096)
Berlin Contemporary Jazz Orchestra	Live in Japan '96	1996	DIW Records (DIW-922)
Sotto in Su featuring Sussan Deyhim	Vanitas	1997	Poise (Poise 4)
Thomas Heberer	Kill Yr Darlins	1997	Poise (Poise 5)
European Jazz Ensemble	20th Anniversary Tour	1997	Konnex (KCD 5078)
Misha Mengelberg	The Root of the Problem	1997	hatOLOGY (hatOLOGY 504)
Michael Riessler	Honig und Asche	1998	ENJA (ENJ-9303)
Instant Composers Pool	Jubilee Varia	1999, 2010	hatOLOGY (hatOLOGY 528, 667)
Thomas Heberer's T.O.M.	Stella	2001	Poise (Poise 8)
Instant Composers Pool	Oh, My Dog!	2001	ICP (ICP 040)
Thomas Heberer, Dieter Manderscheid	What a Wonderful World	2002	JazzHausMusik (JHM 118)
Thomas Heberer's T.O.M.	Mouth	2003	Poise (Poise 9)
Instant Composers Pool	Aan & Uit	2004	ICP (ICP 042)
Aki Takase	Plays Fats Waller	2004	ENJA (ENJA 9152-2)
Norbert Scholly, Frank Schulte, Thomas Heberer	SSH Plays Shhh	2005	Konnex (KCD 5134)
Norbert Stein	Code Carnival	2005	Pata Music (Pata 17)
Instant Composers Pool	Weer Is een Dag Voorbij	2006	ICP (ICP 043)
Thomas Heberer, Dieter Manderscheid	Wanderlust	2006	JazzHausMusik (JHM 151)
Thomas Heberer's Lip Lab	Lex Luna	2007	JazzHausMusik (JHM 162)
James Choice Orchestra	Live at Moers	2007	Moers Music (03020)
Instant Composers Pool	Live at the Bimhuis	2008	ICP (ICP 046)
Andreas Schmidt, Samuel Rohrer, Thomas Heberer	Pieces for a Husky Puzzle	2009	JazzWerkstatt (JW 075)
Joe Hertenstein, Pascal Niggenkemper, Thomas Heberer	HNH	2010	Clean Feed (CF205)
Instant Composers Pool	Orchestra	2010	ICP (ICP 049)
Instant Composers Pool	!ICP! 50	2010	ICP (ICP 50)
Thomas Heberer's Clarino	Klippe	2011	Clean Feed (CF226)
Thomas Heberer	Klippe/One	2011	NoBusiness Records (NBLP32/33)
Joe Hertenstein Quartet	Polylemma	2011	Red Toucan (RT 9342)
Peter Brötzmann's Full Blast and Friends	Sketches and Ballads	2011	Trost (TR107)
Getatchew Mekuria & the Ex & Friends	Y'Anbessaw Tezeta	2012	Terp Records (AS 21/22)
Thomas Heberer's Clarino	Cookbook	2012	Red Toucan (RT 9345)
Instant Composers Pool	ICP Complete Boxed Catalogue	2012	Challenge Records (Buzz 1275)
Thomas Heberer, Achim Kaufmann	Knoten	2013	Red Toucan (RT 9347)
Datenverarbeiter	Fleur Noire Joue Les Images	2014	Fuego (2274-2)
Thomas Heberer, Pascal Niggenkemper	Miner's Pick	2014	FMR (FMR 383-0714)
Instant Composers Pool	East of the Sun	2014	ICP (ICP 051)
Thomas Heberer, Achim Kaufmann, Ken Filiano	Interstices	2015	NuScope Recordings (CD 1029)
The Nu Band	The Cosmological Constant	2015	Not Two (MW 923-2)
Instant Composers Pool	Live at the Vortex London	2015	ICP (ICP 053)
Joe Hertenstein, Pascal Niggenkemper, Thomas Heberer	HNH 2	2015	Clean Feed (CF332)
Instant Composers Pool	Restless in Pieces	2016	ICP (ICP 054)
Yoni Kretzmer Five	Five	2016	OutNow Recordings (ONR 026)
The Nu Band	Live in Geneva	2017	Not Two (MW 948-2)

Select filmography

Ensemble/Artist	Title	Director	Year	Producer/Distributor
Aki Takase	Plays Fats Waller	Stephane Jourdain	2005	La Huit
Pina Bausch	Pina Bausch	Anne Linsel	2006	WDR/Arte
Instant Composers Pool	ICP Orchestra	Guy Girard	2006	La Huit
Misha Mengelberg	Afijn	Jellie Dekker	2006	Data Images/ICP
Eugene Chadbourne	The Jack & Jim Show	Robert O'Haire	2007	Modern Alchemy
The Ex	Convoy Tour: 25 Years of the Ex	The Ex	2009	EX Records
Han Bennink	Hazentijd	Jellie Dekker	2010	Data Images/ICP
Instant Composers Pool	Steigerpijp	Barbara Hin, Martin van der Veen	2010	Sushi Film
Pina Bausch	Pina	Wim Wenders	2011	Neue Road Movies
Instant Composers Pool	Misha enzovoort	Cherry Duyns	2015	ICP

References

1. Kunzler, Martin (2002). Jazz Lexikon (A-L). Reinbek: Rowohlt. pp. 533–534. ISBN 3-499-16512-0.
2. "Catalogue in Detail". Clean Feed. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
3. von Osterhausen, Hans-Jürgen. "Memories of a Life in Music Education: Manfred Schoof". Jazz Zeitung. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
4. "JazzHausMusik". Katalog JHM. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
5. Iannapollo, Robert (December 2011). "CD Reviews, p. 20" (PDF). New York City Jazz Record. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
6. Broomer, Stuart (November 2012). "CD Reviews, p. 20" (PDF). New York City Jazz Record. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
7. "Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
8. "Catalogue". Poise. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
9. "Catalogue". Poise. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
10. "Catalogue". Poise. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
11. "Album Information". NoBusiness Records. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
12. Bausch, Pina. "Tanztheater Wuppertal". Für die Kinder von gestern, heute und morgen. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
13. Bausch, Pina. "Tanztheater Wuppertal". Ten Chi. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
14. "Movie Information: Song Credits". Soundtrack.net. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
15. "The 84th Academy Awards: Oscar Nominations". The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
16. "Pina Bausch". UbuWeb Film & Video. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
17. Whitehead, Kevin (2000). New Dutch Swing. Billboard Books. pp. 154, 143–147. ISBN 0823083489.
18. Jackson, Michael (April 2007). "In For Life". DownBeat magazine. pp. 38–43.
19. Chinen, Nate (March 23, 2006). "ICP Orchestra's Experimental Jazz Swings at Tonic". New York Times. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
20. "New releases December 2012–August 2013". HatHut Records. Archived from the original on 1 December 1998. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
21. "ICP Discography". Stichting ICP. Archived from the original on 15 February 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
22. Gottsschalk, Kurt (Summer 2011). "What's So Funny About Reeds, Brass and Syncopation?". Signal to Noise (62): 12–22.
23. "Library of Congress Music Division concert, 2007-03-31". WorldCat Identities. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
24. Stubley, Peter. "Berlin Contemporary Jazz Orchestra". University of Sheffield Library. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
25. "Between Sound and Space". ECM Records. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
26. Stubley, Peter. "The Morlocks and Other Pieces". University of Sheffield Library. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
27. "Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
28. Heidkamp, Konrad (5 June 1992). "Zeit zum Hören". Die Zeit. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
29. "Biography". Ali Haurand. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
30. Manderscheid, Dieter. "Curriculum Vitae". Cologne Conservatory/Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
31. Richard Cook, Brian Morton (1994). The Penguin Guide to Jazz, 2nd Edition. Penguin Books.
32. Corbett, John (August 2003). "Thomas Heberer/Dieter Manderscheid: What a Wonderful World". DownBeat magazine. p. 70.
33. Corroto, Mark. "All About Jazz". Taking Stock, A Year Half Over. All About Jazz. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
34. Gijssels, Stef. "Free Jazz Blog". Trumpet and Piano. Stef Gijssels. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
35. Point of Departure
36. Free Jazz Blog
37. Republic of Jazz
38. "Not About Schmidt". Jazz City. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
39. "Harald Schmidt Show". Daily Motion. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
40. Heidkamp, Konrad. "Schmidts Schätze". Die Zeit. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
41. Lake, Steve (1990). Berlin Contemporary Jazz Orchestra. Album Liner Notes: ECM Records GmbH. p. 3.
42. "Banff International Workshop in Jazz and Creative Music: Program Faculty". The Banff Centre. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
43. "Thomas Heberer Biography". Poise. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
44. "Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik, Jahrespreis 2004". Deutschen Schallplattenkritik. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
45. "ICP Orchestra". Retrieved 17 August 2013.

External links

• Official site: www.thomasheberer.com
• ICP music video Steigerpijp
• Anne Linsel's Portrait of Pina Bausch, featuring Thomas Heberer's music
• Performance photos of Thomas Heberer by Peter Gannushkin