Steve Houben (born 19 March 1950 in

Liège Liège ( , , ; wa, Lîdje ; nl, Luik ; german: Lüttich ) is a major city and municipality of Wallonia and the capital of the Belgian province of Liège. The city is situated in the valley of the Meuse, in the east of Belgium, not far from b ...

, Belgium) is a Belgian jazz saxophonist and flutist.

Biography

In the mid-1970s, Houben attended the

Berklee College of Music Berklee College of Music is a private music college in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known for the study of jazz and modern American music, it also offers college-level cours ...

in Boston. When he returned to Belgium, he established the jazz seminar at the

conservatory, in association with Henri Pousseur. In his long career he played with Joe Newman, Bill Frisell, Toots Thielemans,

Chet Baker Chesney Henry "Chet" Baker Jr. (December 23, 1929 – May 13, 1988) was an American jazz trumpeter and vocalist. He is known for major innovations in cool jazz that led him to be nicknamed the "Prince of Cool". Baker earned much attention and ...

, Mike Stern, George Coleman, and Gerry Mulligan. He won the Belgian Golden Django in 2000 for best Belgian artist (first winner of the new category). Houben was one of the first musicians to see the potential of singer Melanie De Biasio, inviting her to perform at several concerts and a tour of Russia. He also appeared on her first album, "A Stomach is Burning". He currently teaches jazz saxophone at the

Brussels conservatory The Royal Conservatory of Brussels (french: Conservatoire royal de Bruxelles, nl, Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel) is a historic conservatory in Brussels, Belgium. Starting its activities in 1813, it received its official name in 1832. Provid ...

Discography

*1980: ''Chet Baker & Steve Houben'' (

52e Rue Est 52e Rue Est was a jazz record label in France during the 1970s and the 1980s that released a few jazz, soul, and blues albums. The label's roster included Chet Baker and Archie Shepp Archie Shepp (born May 24, 1937) is an American jazz saxophon ...

) *1994: ''Blue Circumstances'' *1995: ''Songs by Gershwin & Porter'' *2000: ''Le Saxophone et le Jazz'' *2007: ''Un Ange Passe'' *2011: ''Darker Scales'' with

Boyan Vodenitcharov Boyan Vodenitcharov ( bg, Боян Воденичаров) (born 1960) is a Bulgarian pianist and composer. While a student in Sofia's State Conservatory (where he was later a teacher) he won the 1982 National Composition Competition, and was awa ...

*2017: ''Comptines'' (re-release of a 1982 album with pianist

Charles Loos Charles Loos (born 29 July 1951 in Brussels) is a Belgian jazz pianist and composer. In 1972 he began studying composition and jazz orchestra at Berklee College of Music in Boston, while he already followed a classical formation in Belgium. B ...

)

References

External links

Steve Houben Quartet at Jazz Bez 2014
at YouTube {{DEFAULTSORT:Houben, Steve Musicians from Liège 1950 births Living people Belgian jazz musicians Berklee College of Music alumni Belgian jazz saxophonists Academic staff of the Royal Conservatory of Liège Academic staff of the Royal Conservatory of Brussels Members of the Royal Academy of Belgium Walloon people 21st-century saxophonists Igloo Records artists