Jacques Pelzer
Jacques Pelzer (* June 24, 1924 in Liege, † August 6, 1994 ) was a Belgian jazz saxophonist (soprano, alto) and flautist.
Life and work
His earliest influences were Benny Carter and Charlie Parker and then as he was influenced more cool jazz in the 1950s, Lee Konitz. From 1947 he was a member of the Bop Band " Bopshots ", which included the tenor saxophonist Bobby Jaspar, vibraphonist and percussionist Sadi and the guitarist René Thomas. With Thomas, he took on several boards, including Thomas Pelzer Ltd.. (1974 ) with Henk Haverhoek, Han Bennink and Reine De Graaff. At that time he also played with Francy Boland and Toots Thielemans. In the 1960s and 1970s, he turned to more recent movements such as Free Jazz and fusion. With Gato Barbieri, Don Cherry and Philip Catherine in 1967 he took the soundtrack (which came from Komeda ) for the film " Le Départ " by Jerzy Skolimowski on. With Chet Baker, with whom he was friends, he undertook three U.S. tours. In the 1970s he founded the fusion band Open Sky Unit ( named after Dave Liebman's " Open Sky "). Your self-titled album from 1975 was released in 2001 on What new Music. In the 1980s and 1990s, he returned to acoustic jazz back with a repertoire of bop and pieces, which he played in his time with Chet Baker. In 1990, he recorded " Never let me go " ( Igloo ) on the Open Sky Unit and Barney Wilen, Michel Graillier and pianist Eric Legnini. The album received the 1991 " Sax Price ". His last album, " Salute to the bandbox " ( Igloo ) he took in 1993 with Philip Catherine, Philippe Aerts ( his nephew and pupil, who also starred in the Open Sky Unit) and drummer Bruno Castelucci on.
Pelzer was internationally the best-known Belgian saxophonist. He played alongside the aforementioned musicians with Lee Konitz, Stan Getz, Dexter Gordon, Archie Shepp, Bill Evans and Philly Joe Jones.
Pezer was also active as a music teacher; his students included, inter alia, Pierre Vaiana. His daughter Michelle ( who also starred in the Open Sky Unit) is a drummer.
Disco Graphical Notes
- Thomas Pelzer Ltd. (Vogel, 1974)
- PIROTTON Jacques, Jacques Pelzer - Happy Few ... (MD, 1985)
- Jacques Pelzer Featuring Eric Legnini Guest Stars, Barney Wilen & Michel Graillier - Never Let Me Go ( Igloo, 1990)
- Salute to the Band Box ( Igloo, 1993)