Heinz v. Hermann

Saxophones, Clarinets & Flutes / Composer & Arranger / Teacher 





Born in 1936 in Vienna, Austria. Learned violin at the age of eight, 

first approach to jazz at seventeen. Took a few clarinet lessons with 

Fatty George, learned all other instruments autodidactically. Began to 

play in jazz clubs around Vienna. Won first prize in the Friedrich Gulda 

youth contest as best young jazz saxophonist. Went in the late fifties 

with the Uzi Förster band to Germany, and was on the road from that time 

onward. Worked in American clubs in North Africa for two years. Spent four 

years in France, and later in Spain and Italy. Returned to Germany in 1968 

to work in several radio big bands and TV shows. Since then a permanent 

member of the Peter Herbolzheimer Big Band.



Small Bands:  Uzi FÖrster, Herman Wilson, Gerry Hayes, Peter Herbolzheimer, 

Charlie Antolini, Salsanco, Mano Negra, Dusko Goykovic, Connection Latina, 

Jazzcombo des Bayr. Rundfunks (Joe Haider, Mal Waldron, Benny Bailey, Frank 

St.Peter) 



Own Bands with: Hans Rettenbacher, Sammy Walker, Hartwig Bartz, Wilton Gaynair, 

Werner Giertz, Joe Harris, Jimmy Woode, Mike Thatcher, Carmell Jones, Rolf 

Ericson, Walter Norris, Roman Dylag, Ronnie Stephenson, Wilson de Oliveira, 

Mads Vinding, Leo Wright, Ake Persson. Two years houseband leader in the Madrid 

jazz club "Whisky & Jazz" with Tete Montoliu, Booker Ervin, Lee Konitz, Billy 

Brooks, Donald Byrd and many others..



Big Bands: Max Greger, Dusko Goykovic´ Munich Big Band, Gil Evans, 

Maynard Ferguson, Lionel Hampton, SFB-Bigband (Paul Kuhn), Slide Hamptons 

Superband, Peter Herbolzheimer RCB (35 years!), Barry Ross´ Swingmachine, 

NDR-Big Band, KÖln Musik Big Band, RIAS Big Band, Big Band Radio Ljubljana. 



Radio & Television shows: Lionel Hampton, Dizzy Gillespie, Caterina Valente, 

Bill Ramsey, Marianne Mendt, Joe Williams, Dianne Warwick, Shirley Bassey, 

Jose Feliciano, Wencke Myhre, Sammy Davis Jr., Henry Mancini, Victor Borge, 

Paul Anka, Ray Charles, Bert Kaempfert, Al Jarreau, Manhattan Transfer, Bobby 

McFerrin and many others. Worked for many of those bands as arranger and composer .



Membership GEMA since 1969, AKM since 1996. Also member of the Association of 

German Music Arrangers and the German Composers Association.



Teaching: Eighteen years at the Berlin University of Art (classical saxophone), 

and with Bujazzo. Gave countless workshops for saxophone and big bands in 

Austria, Germany and Slovenia. Founder and leader in 1989 of the Berlin Youth 

Jazz Orchestra. Professor since 1992 at the Conservatory of Carinthia, Klagenfurt,

Austria. 



As Leader: The NDR, RIAS, Radio Ljubljana, Berlin Youth and the Conservatory of 

Carinthia Big Bands. Several own bands (Logo JazzAHEAD). Quintet with Andy 

Haderer, Bruno Castellucci, Erwin Schmidt and Uli Langthaler.



Current Activities: Together with teaching at the Klagenfurt Conservatory 

(head of the Jazz Department) and running various workshops, also working as 

composer, arranger, soloist und leader with various bands (still with Peter

Herbolzheimer and various radio stations).



Recordings: Countless recordings with the above-mentioned bands (see 

discography). Under his own name:

Jazz Gitano Hispavox  1965 *)

Heinz v. Hermann / "2nd Trio" Koala 1991 *)

Heinz v. Hermann JAZZahead - The Trio PoolJazz 1996 *)

Heinz v. Hermann Quintett JAZZahead "live in L.E." Mons 1998 *)

Heinz v. Hermann "Ballad Poetry" Elk 1998 *) 



Adress:

in Austria: A 5350 Strobl , Aigen 223, Tel. & Fax: (+43)-(0)6137-5604

mobil : (+43)-(0)664- 3073006

in Germany: D 14057 Berlin, RÖnnestr.4, Tel.: (+49)-(0)30-3237504

e-mail : h.v.hermann@magnet.at