Hugh Steinmetz:
Composer, trumpet player, bandleader, MA, born 15.02.1943.
Started playing trumpet in 1957 and received lessons from Knud Hovaldt (Principal Trumpet in The Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra and The Royal Symphony Orchestra) and Arnvid Meyer (esteemed jazz trumpet player). Played traditional jazz and swing in various groups, and formed in 1960 a band with Franz Beckerlee on alto saxophone. The band started out playing Miles Davis/John Coltrane inspired neo-bob, but was soon inspired by Ornette Coleman. It played most of Ornette Coleman`s compositions and developed later a very personal unique free form style. Under the name "The Contemporary Jazz Quartet" it recorded the LP "Action" in 1964 with Sunny Murray on drums, and the LP "Third Stream Music" with classical composer, pianist and performance-artist Niels Viggo Bentzon in 1965. The group performed at the Comblain-la-Tour international jazz festival in 1964 with Henrik Vogel on drums, and at various radiobroadcasts and TV-shows in Denmark with Claus Barnekow and Simon Koppel on drums.
Became in 1964 a member of "The Vogel Brothers Sextet" and worked at the same time as a composer and soloist with "The Danish Radio Jazz Group" (big band). Participated as composer and soloist on the LP "The Radio Jazz Group" in 1965 together with Erik Moseholm and Ray Pitts and received the same year a legacy from the Danish Arts Foundation.
Was in 1966 elected "Danish Jazz Musician of the Year" by The Danish Jazz Academy and recorded the same year the LP "Nu" ("Now") with Niels Harrit and Karsten Vogel on saxophones, Per Aage Brandt on piano, Steffen Andersen on bass and Bo Thrige Andersen on drums. Participated in radiobroadcasts and concerts with Don Cherry, Archie Shepp, Gary Peacock, Sunny Murray, Rashied Ali, Roswell Rudd, John Tchicai, Louis Hjulmand, Niels Henning Ørsted Pedersen and others. Played in 1966-67 with Peter Belli and "Seven Sounds" (soul-band) with Niels Harrit, Peter Ingemann and Willy Jønsson, and later with "Melvis and His Gentlemen" with among others Erling Kroner ("Melvis Anthology 3", Danish Radio Concert recordings from 1967 with Melvis and "Hugh Steinmetz Octet"). Received in 1967 the newspaper Ekstra Bladet`s Rock-award. Recorded the LP "TCJQ" in 1968 with "The Contemporary Jazz Quintet", (with Bo Thrige Andersen on drums) where the group experimented with electric amplified wind instruments. Other recordings from 1966-67 with this group and Niels Harrit on musical saw are released on CD by Columbia/Sony in 2000 under the title "The Contemporary Jazz Quintet Actions 1966-67" and Atavista/Cadence (Unheard Music Series) in 2005, and again in 2019 as LP on Centrifuga (as well as the LP "Third Stream Music"). The recordings from 1964 with Sunny Murray and from 1968 are reissued as a double CD "Action, Action" by SteepleChase in 2000. Recordings from 1964 and 1967 are in 2025 and 2026 released on Formalibera on LP, and the LP “Nu” is re-issued on CD by SteepleChase.
Formed in late 1966 the group "Cadentia Nova Danica" together with John Tchicai, Karsten Vogel, Kim Menzer, Finn Von Eyben, Steffen Andersen, Giorgio Musoni and Bo Thrige Andersen (2 reeds, 2 brasses, 2 basses and 2 drums) later Max Brüel on baritone saxophone and piano. The group performed in concerts in Wigmore Hall (London) and Manchester (recordings from the concert in Wigmore Hall are released on Formalibera), Heine/Onstad Museum of Modern Art (Oslo), and at the Molde Jazz festival in 1967. It recorded in 1968 the LP "John Tchicai and Cadentia Nova Danica" and in 1969 the LP "Afrodisiaca" (with John Tchicai and HS as composers and HS as co-leader (the title composition)) (re-issued on CD by Promising Music), and the group, now 26 musicians, was in 1969 hired as a regular third orchestra under The Danish Radio with John Tchicai and HS as composers and conductors and with regularly weekly rehearsals and regularly monthly broadcasts.
Received in 1967 a legacy from the Danish Arts Foundation. Participated in 1969 in Bremen (Germany) in the recording of the LP "European Echoes" (reissued on CD by Atavistic, Unheard Music Series) with an international orchestra conducted by Manfred Schoof, and later same year in Baden-Baden in the recording of the LP "Gittin´to Know Y´all" with an international orchestra conducted by Lester Bowie (reissued on CD by MPS/Polydor). Became in 1969 a member of "Niels Husums Septet" with Poul Hindberg, Keld Juul Nielsen, Torben Munk, Bjarne Rostvold og Ib Lund Nielsen. Worked during the end of the ´60s and the beginning of the ´70s with among others Peter Brötzmann, Peter Kowald, Derek Bailey, Evan Parker and John Stevens at concerts in Germany, Willem Breuker, Han Bennink, Misha Mengelberg, Derek Bailey, Paul Rutherford and Fred Van Hove at concerts in Holland and Belgium, Irene Schweizer and Pierre Favre at concerts in Copenhagen and with Claude Delcloo and Michel Roque at concerts in Paris.
Toured in Denmark with John Tchicai, Misha Mengelberg, Han Bennink and Pierre Dørge, and worked on the Danish scene with Johnny Dyani ("Witchdoctors Son" and "United Nations"), Giorgio Musoni, Ivan Krill, Michael Schou, Steen Claesson, Jesper Zeuten, Pierre Dørge and Lasse Lunderskov. Recorded with "Burnin Red Ivanhoe" 1969 (the LP “M 144”), Tom Bailey 1971 (the LP "Tom Bailey") (trumpet player and arranger) and Mickey Baker and Delta Blues Band on the LP "Tales From The Underdog" in 1975 with Niels Harrit, Holger Laumann and Flemming Quist Møller.
Received in 1970 a legacy from the Danish Arts Foundation.
Had to give up trumpet playing in 1976 after a complicated surgery of the sinus, but started in 1982 a study in musical science at The Institute of Musical Science under The University of Copenhagen. Began in 1986 a cautious retrain as a musician and worked with "The University Big Band" and "Jeppe Tangs Quintet" and the group "Free Enterprise" with Niels Nogel plus various experimenting groups.
Graduated in 1990 with a master's degree (cand. phil.) including a final special treatise on Joseph Schillinger and his System of Musical Composition.
Worked during the end of the `80s and the `90s with various groups: "MI Big Band", "Bent Ronak Big Band", "Blue Heaven Big Band", "Ancher Grøn Big Band", "Orbit Big Band" and "DRAM Big Band", "The Vogel Brothers Quintet" and own quartets and quintets with among others Bill Buchmann, Rasmus Welling, Marko Martinovic´, Nils Karlson and Simon Koppel. Worked with Christer Irgens Møller, Peter Friis Nielsen, Peter Ole Jørgensen and Michael Nielsen in the group "Spanner in the Works" and with the Composers Pool "SKRÆP".
Formed in 1993 the ensemble "Hugh Steinmetz Octet" with Rasmus Welling, Steffen Poulsen, Stig Helmersen, Henrik Winther, Thomas Steen, Ture Kindt-Larsen and Martin Wade/Ole Givskov and recorded with this band the CD "City Music" (9 new compositions) in 1994.
Recorded same year the CD`s “Taylors Universe” and “Taylors Universe, PORK” plus "Heart Disc" under conduction of Robin Taylor.
Formed in 1996 the 17-piece orchestra "Communio Musica" and recorded the CD`s "Gate of Changes" and "Special Alloy" (both with own compositions). The orchestra, with the line-up: Karsten Vogel, Steffen Poulsen, Michael Nielsen, Christian Kyhl, Kim Menzer, Marko Martinovic´, Christer Irgens Møller, Peter Friis Nielsen, Ture Kindt-Larsen, Torsten Gislason, Robin Taylor, Giorgio Musoni, Peter Ole Jørgensen, Rasmus Grosell, Lars Juul and Simon Koppel performed under Copenhagen City of Culture 1996, in the major art galleries Øksnehallen and Arken and under Copenhagen Jazz Festival 1998.
Was In 1999 a member of the cultural project The Danish Wave with "Orbit Big Band", "The Tritonus Choir" and Jesper Thilo under performances of Duke Ellington´s Sacred Concert in Washington and New York. Worked with own group "Hugh Steinmetz Quintet" with Karsten Vogel altosax, Marko Martinovic piano, Jens Meldgaard bass and Simon Koppel drums. Worked in Copenhagen in different groups with the American avant-garde alto saxophone player Luther Thomas (with Pascal Jamgothian (tn), Ole Rømer (dr), Jimmi Roger Petersen (b), Simon Koppel (dr) and Jess Harpsøe (vocal)). Recorded in 2003 the LP “Giro 413, Mor Er Den Bedste I Verden” (“Giro 413, Mom is the best in the world”) with Cim Meyer (guitar), Søren Eriksen (tenor saxophone), Jimmy Roger Petersen (bass) and Ole Rømer (drums). Participated in the performance of the work "Entity" (experimenting music for chamber orchestra) by Vagn E. Olsson in The Second Opera. Member of the Danish Radio's "DRAM big band" (2000-2012).
Worked in 2000 with Luther Thomas in the bands "Saxmaniacs" and "Saxmachine" and at concerts in New York. Formed the sextet "The Jazz Gang" with Luther Thomas alto sax, Pascal Jamgotchian tenor sax, Marko Martinovic piano, Simon Koppel drums and René Gledorf bass. Worked with Robin Taylor and Karsten Vogel in "Taylor`s Free Universe" and participated on the CD-recording "Edge of Darkness".
Formed in 2002 "Hugh Steinmetz Quartet" with Luther Thomas alto sax, Ole Rømer drums and Jimmi Roger Petersen (later Nils Davidsen) bass. The group had its debut in a concert under “Kanten” in "The House" in May 2002, and recorded in 2003 the CD “Janus Head” with 18 new compositions by HS.
Worked from 1999 to 2002 on the symphony "Human Ghettos" (with the movements: "Atoms", "Forms", "Water", "Life" and "Ashes") for conventional symphony orchestra enhanced with jazz-nonet (not yet performed).
Has written for string orchestra: "Autumn Colours" (recorded by Prag String Orchestra under conduction of Mario Klemens), choir: "O Nightingale" for Musica Ficta (text by William Wordsworth), "ToneArt Ensemble": "Modus Vivendi", "ToneArt Workshop": "Fiesta De Los Locos" and in 2006 "Letters of Silent Life" for experimental vocal/workshop to lyrics by Anna-Lise Malmros.
Was for many years a member of DJBFA (Danish Jazz, Beat and Folk Authors) and (from 2000 to 2026) the composer's organization ToneArt (12 years as a board member and accountant).
Received legacies from the Danish Arts Foundation in the years 1997-98-99-2000-01-02-03-04 and 2006.
Performed at Copenhagen Jazz Festival 2004 with the re-united "Cadentia Nova Danica" (John Tchicai tn, Karsten Vogel as, HS tp, Kim Menzer tb, Klaus Menzer dr, Peter Ole Jørgensen dr and Nils Davidsen bass) as well as with "Hugh Steinmetz Quartet" with Luther Thomas.
Performed Dec.-04 with "ToneArt Workshop-Ensemble" at a concert with pure first performances (Thomas Cauldry tp, HS tp, Martin Cholewa hn, Peter Dahlgren tb, Niels Gerhardt tuba, Stefan Pasborg dr and Niels Præstholm bass).
Performed in 2005 at Copenhagen Jazz Festival with “ToneArt Ensemble” with Emil Hess, Anders T. Andersen, Pernille Bévort, Erling Kroner, Niels Gerhardt, Niels Thybo, Anders Hentze and Kasper Tagel, plus performed with “Steinmetz/Tchicai Quintet” with John Tchicai, Maj-Britt Kramer, Stefan Pasborg and Jeppe Skovbakke.
Performed Nov. 2005 in Copenhagen Jazzhouse with "ToneArt Ensemble" during "ToneArt Biennale", and formed in autumn 2005 together with Karsten Vogel the group "Vogel/Steinmetz Quartet" with Karsten Vogel alto sax, Lars Juul drums and Kasper Tagel bass.
Wrote in January 2006 "Letters of Silent Life" to texts by Anna-Lise Malmros performed by "ToneArt Workshop Orchestra" in Christianskirken 25-02-2006 (vocal: Camilla Dayyani, musicians: Emil Hess, Thomas Agergaard, Martin Cholewa, Niklas Winther, Kasper Tagel and Richard Huntley).
Participated in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 in various performances of John Tchicai´s Pentecost Mass "A Contemporary Pentecost Mass" in various churches in Copenhagen and Roskilde (With John Tchicai, Thomas Agergaard, Erling Kroner, Peter Ole Jørgensen, organ and choir).
Participated 2006 in the recording of Robin Taylor´s CD "Terra Nova".
Reunited "Hugh Steinmetz Sextet" with Karsten Vogel, Niels Harrit, Per Aage Brandt, Kasper Tagel and Lars Juul for concerts in Salon K ("The House", ToneArt) and Literaturhaus (Kanten) under Copenhagen Jazz Festival 2006. The group performed two new suites by HS "The Cherry Blossom" and "Take Care of Business" in memory of Don Cherry, who would have been 70 that year. These suites were recorded in June 2007 for broadcasting in The Danish Radio, and received financial support for later issuing the CD “The Cherry Blossom” by APG.
Performed at Copenhagen Jazz Festival 2007 with "VogelSteinmetz Quartet".
Composed in 2007 "Man and Beast" to lyrics by Anna-Lise Malmros. The piece was performed by "ToneArt Workshop Orchestra" with Sissel Vera Petterson (vocal) in December 2007 at the gallery "Den Frie" in Copenhagen.
Composed 2008 "Pentecost Picnic" to "United Notions Sax Quartet" (Pernille Bévort, Simon Spang Hanssen, Anders T. Andersen and Emil Hess) plus Marylin Mazur (performed in Salon K July 2008) plus eight new compositions for sextet (performed July 2008 by "Hugh Steinmetz Sextet" during Copenhagen Jazz Festival).
Played concerts in autumn 2008 in Unicorn/Jazzkælderen and Toldkammeret/Elsinore with "Hugh Steinmetz Sextet", and performed with "Hugh Steinmetz Quintet" at "The Bent Jaedig Foundation Award Celebration" in Copenhagen Jazzhouse and at "The Gelsted-Kirk-Scherig Foundation Award Celebration" in Kanonhallen.
Participated in 2009-2010 in the CD recordings with Vagn Leick (Jazz and Electronica, Urban Jungle, 3rd Encounter) and Kamilla Hygum-Jacobsen (Troldebierne), both released in autumn 2010.
Participated in 2012 in the CD recording of “Taylor´s Universe, Kind of Red”.
Formed in spring 2012 “Hugh Steinmetz Octet” with Simon Spang-Hanssen alto saxophone, Anders T. Andersen tenor saxophone and bass saxophone, Emil Hess Baritone saxophone, HS trumpet, Rolf Mandix trombone, Jonas Johansen drums, Marko Martinovic` piano and Kasper Tagel bass. The octet has its debut concert with 10 first performances of compositions by HS in Paradise Jazz 12-04-2012 and again in Paradise Jazz 11-07-2012 under Copenhagen Jazz Festival/”ToneArt New Music Festival” with two more first performances of new compositions.
Performed with the “gathered for the occasion septet” “Inner Space Orchestra” the piece “Meetings In Inner Space” (HS) 19-04-2012 in Kulturhuset Islands Brygge. The orchestra was: Mia Dyberg alto saxophone, Mads Egetoft tenor saxophone, HS trumpet, Rune Jacobsen tuba, David Besiakov drums Oscar Alvarez Rifbjerg piano and Tomo Jacobsen bass.
Participated in 2012 in the CD recording “Taylors Universe, Worn Out” and released in 2013 the CD “Hugh Steinmetz Octet, Live In Paradise”.
Formed in the spring 2013 together with Jens Søndergaard on alto saxophone the quartet “Søndergaard/Steinmetz Venture” with Poul Ehlers on bass and Dennis Drud on drums. The quartet had its first performance in Christiania Jazz Club and played under the auspices of ToneArt on Copenhagen Jazz Festival, where it focused on compositions by Ornette Coleman and own compositions. The group later performed on several of Copenhagen`s central jazz scenes.
Participated in September 2013 as leader, musician and composer in the ToneArt project “Music and Painting” in Kulturhuset Islands Brygge with “ToneArt Workshop Orchestra” with Emil Hess, Søren Møller, Ture Larsen, Lisbeth Diers, John Ehde and Peter Danstrup. Thirteen first performances by thirteen different ToneArt composers while Leif Sylvester on the stage painted a big painting inspired by the music.
Composed in 2014 the piece “Hot Spring” for New Music Orchestra under the direction of Niels Gerhardt (performed at a concert in Paradise Jazz Huset 25-09-2014).
Formed in July 2015 a new group “Hugh Steinmetz Sextet” with Jens Søndergaard alto saxophone, Bob Rockwell tenor saxophone, HS trumpet, Anders Mogensen drums, Carl Winther piano and Jimmi Roger Petersen bass. The groups first concert was the 4th of December in Café Slotsbio in Hillerød with 10 new compositions, and it was repeated the 17th of February 2016 in Paradise Jazz under “Winther Jazz 2016”.
Composed in the spring 2016 the piece “Author´s Fright” to Kathrine Windfeld Big Band. The piece was performed in Huset (The House) in Magstræde 09-07-2016 under ToneArt´s concerts under Copenhagen Jazz Festival.
Composed in 2017 the piece “Pentangular Mood” for Kathrine Windfeld Big Band (performed the 9th of September in Kulturhuset Islands Brygge) plus 10 new compositions for “Hugh Steinmetz Octet” (performed the 15th of September in Paradise Jazz, Huset Copenhagen).
Composed in 2019 “Fantasmi Stranieri” to texts by Anna-Lise Malmros for BSD+B Big Band “Electro Acoustic Experience” under direction by Jens Christian “Chappe Jensen (performed 03-09-2019 in Musikhuset in Aarhus) and in 2020 “Chain Of 12 Circles” for ToneArt Chamber Ensemble (octet) under “ToneArt On The Move” (performed 02-10-2020 in Den Norske Kirke (Copenhagen) and 04-10-2020 in Musikhuset in Aarhus).
Composed in 2020 a new version of the piece “Afrodisiaca” plus the composition “Surya Namaskar” commissioned by Blank Forms for performances in New York and several cities in USA and Europe under the concert series “Homage A John Tchicai”. The project was financially supported by The Danish Arts Foundation, but was canceled because of the Corona virus pandemic.
Composed in 2020 “Kleine Kurzgeschicten” for symphony orchestra (not yet performed) and “Rudolphs Dance” for Jeppe Zeeberg Quartet “Dødens Garderobe Julekalender”.
Composed in 2023 “Concerto for Trumpet in C plus String Quintet” (four movements, not yet performed) plus “Det Åbne Træ” (“The Open Tree”) for ToneArt Composers Orchestra (performed 04-11-2023 in Frihavnskirken in Copenhagen and 03-02-2024 in Langenæskirken in Aarhus).
Composed in 2024 “Friend Request” for Pagsberg Big Band & The Vocals (text by the composer) performed 10-07-2024 at University of Copenhagen and 11-07-2024 at Gråbrødre Torv under Copenhagen Jazz Festival.
Composed in 2024 “The Vulture Flies Stern And Swift” for ToneArt Composers Orchestra (performed in Frihavnskirken 07-11-2024 and in Langenæskirken 23-02-2025).
Composed in 2026 “Gravity In Progress” for sinfonietta (not yet performed).