Peter Van Huffel – Alto Saxophone, Clarinet, Compostions
Sophie Tassignon – Voice
Lina Allemano – Trumpet
Matthias Müller – Trombone
Alex Maksymiw – Guitar
Nathan Bontrager – Cello
Meinrad Kneer – Bass
Christian Marien – Drums
In May 2016 Peter Van Huffel spent three weeks as composer in residence at the Banff Centre for the Arts in Alberta, Canada, where he formed the initial concept and completed the first compositions for a new octet project. The compositions for this project mix together elements of jazz, free improvisation and 20th century contemporary classical music, with strong influences by renowned composers such as Berio, Ives, Feldman, Zorn, Mingus, Ellington and many more. Many of the pieces written for this ensemble intertwine composition and improvisation with texts by a range of authors including the renowned poet e.e. cummings, and the contemporary american poet, Julie Joosten, who Van Huffel befriended during his time in Banff. In this music one can hear the various sounds and musical directions Van Huffel has been known for from his numerous past and present projects, including Gorilla Mask, House of Mirrors, Hufflignon and the Peter Van Huffel Quartet & Quintet. The Peter Van Huffel Octet is his largest ensemble as a bandleader to date.
Peter Van Huffel 