Herb Geller
Herb Geller was born in 1928 in Los Angeles. He decided to play the alto saxophone after he heard Benny Carter at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles. Only two years later he became involved in his first professional engagement in the band of Joe Venuti. At this time he met the music of Charlie Parker who counts, with Benny Carter, as Geller's main idols.
In 1948 Herb travelled for the first time to New York where he worked for several bands of Jack Fina, Claude Thornhill, Jerry Wald, Lucky Millinder. At this time he met the pianist Lorraine Walsh, who became not only his wife but also a very important musical partner. In 1952 the Gellers moved back to the west coast of the United States of America where they worked in smaller ensembles. Herb played also at this time in Bands of Billy May, Shorty Rodgers, Maynard Ferguson, Dan Terry, Bill Holman and Chet Baker. In 1955 he won the Down Beat's "New Star Award" and achieved worldwide acceptance through his records with Clifford Brown.
In 1958 Lorraine Geller died unexpected. At this time Herb Geller worked in the bands of Shelly Manne, Louis Bellson and Benny Goodman. During a tour in Brazil with the Benny Goodman Orchestra Herb decided not to go back to the USA. He stayed for six weeks in Sao Paulo and played Bossa Nova until he took a ship to Lisbon. Finally he ended up in Paris where he worked with Kenny Clarke and Kenny Drew for the French broadcasting.
In 1962 the RIAS big band from Berlin offered Herb employment. He accepted this offer, played there beside futher "Americans in Europe" like Benny Bailey, Joe Harris, Nat Peck and his second wife Christine Rabsch. Herb stayed for three years until he signed the contract for the lead alto position at the NDR big band in Hamburg. He remained there for 28 years. During this time the NDR big band turned from a postwar-dance-orchestra to one of the most interesting big bands of modern jazz. The endless list of all parties who are involved in productions, starts with Joe Pass and Chet Baker to avant-garde musicians like Anthony Braxton. In a nutshell the NDR big band counts in almost all famous names of european jazz.
Beside his work at the NDR big band, Herb Geller was also active in other instrumentations, including his own projects and tours. In 1976 Herb Geller was awarded with the "Deutschen Schallplattenpreis", given to the best artist of the year. Since 1986 he has been Professor for saxophone at the "Hochschule für Musik und Theater" in Hamburg.
Herb Geller is also a "Yamaha Performing Artist".