Herbert Joos

Born on 21 March 1940 in Karlsruhe, Germany, Joos trained on flügelhorn, trumpet and bass while also performing on baritone-horn and alphorn. Throughout the opening years of the 1970s he performed with Modern Jazz Quintet, New Jazz Ensemble and the Fourmenonly group. At the same time he appeared with various ensembles at the Free Jazz Meeting in Baden-Baden and at Free Jazz Day in Frankfurt, and he took part in a flügelhorn workshop alongside Kenny Wheeler, Ian Carr, Harry Beckett and Ack van Rooyen. He further joined Bernd Konrad and Wolfgang Czelusta for the Blow project. In addition he directed his own quartet and orchestra. Among all these engagements the one that earned the widest recognition was his tenure with the Vienna Art Orchestra. A warm, expansive tone, romantic-impressionistic leanings and a readiness for free improvisation together define a distinctive voice that stands out in European jazz.