PETER VAN HUFFEL

saxophonist & composer

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Canadian saxophonist Peter Van Huffel is an active performer on the Canadian, New York and European jazz scenes and currently resides in Berlin, Germany. Steve Smith of Time Out New York has referred to Peter as “a compelling melodist with a fiery outward-bound streak and a penchant for layering opposed rhythms in quirky, compelling ways..." and Peter’s 2007 release for Fresh Sound Records has been called “one of the more memorable Fresh Sounds discs in a while” by Jim MacNie of the Village Voice. His quintet has held regular performances at such New York staples as the 55 Bar and the Cornelia Street Cafe, and at a number of important venues in the rapidly growing Brooklyn music scene. Currently, Peter’s main focus is his newest project, a collaboration with Belgian vocalist Sophie Tassignon, featuring Canadian–New York based bassist Michael Bates, and Swiss trombonist Samuel Blaser. Peter’s newest recording, featuring this group, has just been released (October 2008) on Portugal’s Clean Feed Records, renowned for their work with such avant-garde jazz artists as Anthony Braxton and Evan Parker. Peter is an apprentice of David Liebman, Pat LaBarbera and Tony Malaby, and has toured extensively throughout Canada, Europe and the United States as both leader and sideman. Peter has performed alongside such world-renowned musicians as Chris Potter, Clarence Penn, Donny McCaslin and Gebhard Ullmann, and has obtained his Master's in music from the Manhattan School of Music in NYC.

Aside from the more recent recordings, “Silvester Battlefield” (2007 Fresh Sound Records) and “HuffLiGNoN” (2008 Clean Feed Records), Peter has recorded two previous CD's under his own name - the first, “Mind Over Matter,” features Peter’s earlier compositions performed by his Toronto based ensemble; and the second, "On Common Ground,” is an independent release with the NY Quintet recorded live in NYC in May, 2005. In addition to his own groups, Peter is an active member of the New-York based trio ANIMAL FORUM, also featuring trombonist Blaser and Israeli drummer Ziv Ravitz; and works in various collaborative projects with such musicians as Berlin bassist Roland Fidezius and Belgian clarinetist / saxophonist Joachim Badenhorst. Peter can also be heard on occasion in duo with Canadian pianist Greg de Denus; performing in the many variations of Athens, Georgia based guitarist Dan Nettles’ very own “Kenosha Kid;” and with American composer Sherisse Rogers’ “Project Uprising”. He has also been featured on a variety of new recordings from other artists including the most recent release from Lily Maase’s New York based project “theSuiteUnravelling;” and the soon to be released, newly scored DVD of Buster Keaton's 1920's film "Steamboat Bill Jr." written and orchestrated by Dan Nettles.