Hugh Steinmetz, composer, trumpet player, band leader, MA, born 15-02-1943. E-mail: hugh@steinmetz.dk
Was in the 1960s and 1970s one of the pioneers of the "free jazz movement".
Formed together with Franz Beckerlee ”The Contemporary Jazz Quartet” (later Quintet), who in 1964 recorded the LP ”Action” with Sunny Murray on drums, in 1965 the LP ”Third Stream Music” with Niels Viggo Bentzon, in 1966 the LP ”Action, Action” and in 1968 the LP ”The Contemporary Jazz Quintet” (all reissued several times). Became in 1963 a member of the ”Brothers Vogel Sextet” and worked in the years 1963-1969 as composer and soloist with The Radio Jazz Group under direction of Erik Moseholm, Ray Pitts and Palle Mikkelborg. Participated as composer and soloist on the LP ”The Radio Jazz Group” in 1965. Was in 1966 elected ”Jazz musician of the year” and recorded the LP ”Nu” (Now). Participated in concerts with among others Don Cherry, Archie Shepp, Rashied Ali, Sunny Murray, J.C. Moses, Louis Hjulmand, Niels Husum and Niels Henning Ørsted Pedersen. Formed in 1967 together with John Tchicai and Karsten Vogel the group ”Cadentia Nova Danica” (LPs ”Cadentia Nova Danica, Jazzhus Montmartre”, ”John Tchicai and Cadentia Nova Danica” and ”Afrodisiaca”). Participated in 1969 on the LP ”European Echoes” with an international orchestra under conduction of Manfred Shoof and same year on the LP ”Gittin´to Know Y´all” with an international orchestra under conduction of Lester Bowie. Collaborated in the late 60s and in the 70s with among others Peter Brötzmann, Peter Kowald, Willen Breuker, Han Bennink, Misha Mengelberg, Fred Van Hove, John Stevens, Evan Parker, Derek Bailey, Paul Rutherford, Claude Delcloo, Michel Roque, Irene Schweizer, Pierre Favre.........Toured in Danmark with John Tchicai, Misha Mengelberg, Han Bennink and Pierre Dørge.
MA from University of Copenhagen, Section of Musicology in 1990 with dissertation about Joseph Schillinger`s composition system.
Has since formed the groups ”Hugh Steinmetz Quartet/Quintet/Sextet/Octet” and the big orchestra ”Communio Musica”. CDs: ”City Music” (Hugh Steinmetz Octet), ”Gate of Changes” (Communio Musica), ”Special Alloy” (Communio Musica), ”Janus Head” (Hugh Seinmetz Quartet), ”The Cherry Blossom” (Hugh Steinmetz Sextet), ”Live in Paradise” (Hugh Steinmetz Octet).
Was for a period member of "ToneArt Ensemble" and has composed for big as well as for small groups, string orchestra, symphony orchestra, saxophone quartet, choir and various workshop ensembles. Has written several compositions for ”ToneArt Composers Orchestra” some to texts of Anna-Lise Malmros.
Is a member of Danish Composers Society and has several years received work allowances from The Danish Arts Foundation