Jazz department-Music school of Echternach

Marc Demuth (doublebass)

Marc Demuth was born in Luxembourg in 1978.
He studied at the Conservatory of Luxembourg in the Jazz-department with E-bass as well as Jazz-theory, classical solfege and classical doublebass from 1994 until 1997
Later on he studied at the Royal Conservatory in Brussels (Belgium) in the Jazz-department (doublebass and e-Bass),
with the teachers Michel Hatzigeorgiou and Jean-Louis Rassinfosse. He got the first prize (final exam of instrumental studies) in 1999 on E-bass and on doublebass in 2000.
After that he went to study at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague with Jazz-doublebass teachers Hein van de Geyn
and Frans van der Hoeven and classical bass as a side subject with Roelaf Meijer. He obtained the Bachelor of Music
in Jazz-doublebass in 2003 as well as a teacher’s degree in pedagogy and methodology
He continued his studies in a Master’s degree program having as guest teachers, besides Hein van de Geyn as a main teacher, Philippe Catherine and Hans van Osterhout.
During all this study time he kept performing in Luxembourg, Belgium and Holland with famous musicians like Phil Abraham, Jef Neve, Teun Verbruggen, Pascal Schumacher,Guy Cabay, Jacques Pirroton, Felix Simtaine, Erwin Van, Richard Rousselet, Lieven Venken, Oliver Strauch, Peter Decker, Claudio Fasoli, Ernie Hammes, Hein van de Geyn and many more.
He played in Bigband projects in the Conservatory of The Hague under the conduction of John Ruocco, Kenny Werner and Michael Brecker.
In 2003/2004 he went to study with a scholarship from the program Sócrates/ Eramus at the Superior School of Music of Catalunya, in Barcelona, where he was living and performing for one year.
He performed on important festivals like Montreux Jazz Festival, Brussels Jazz Marathon, Festival Jazz A Liege, North Sea Jazz Festival, FIMU-festival in Belfort (France), European Jazz Festival in Athens, Frameries Jazz (Belgium), Festival JAZZ AND SOUND in Gent (Belgium), Jazz-Rallye Luxembourg City, Benedict Jazz Festival (Clervaux) and many more. He also accompanied the World Youth Choir on their winter tour 1999-2000 through Holland, Belgium, Germany and France.
He won the soloist price in a group competition in Wavre (Belgium) in July 2001 organised by the Rotary Club, as well as the second price in the LEIDEN JAZZ-BAND COMPETITION January 2003 with the Joachim Badenhorst trio.
in July 1996 he won a scholarship for studying E-bass at the Berklee College of Music while participating at their annual workshop in Perugie (Italy).
In the Summer of 2004 he accompained the European Jazz Youth Orchestra Big Band for their Europe and Brazil tour under the conduction of the Portuguese leader/ composer Pedro Moreira.
iHe won the first prize as well as the public prize at the prestigious Jazz competition in Avignon in 2004 with the Pascal Schumacher 4tet.
He played with the Marc Demuth 4tet feat. Sofia Ribeiro in the House of Luxembourg in New York in march 2005, representing his country for the francophonie festival New York 2005.
In October 2005 he recorded his first CD Dança da Solidao with the bass and voice duo Marc Demuth/Sofia Ribeiro Duo.
He is currently living in Luxembourg, teaching E-bass and acoustic bass at the music school of Echternach and he is the head of this school’s jazz department .He performs regularly in jazz-clubs over Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg, Germany, Portugal and France.




About George Letellier
USA - Luxembourg

First attended Berklee College of Music (Boston) in 1975.
In 1976 wrote first compositions and arrangements and began playing first Jazz concerts, later performing in warm-up (support) Bands for Phil Woods, Gary Burton, and Steve Swallow.

Returned to Berklee in 1983 and graduated in 1985 with a B. A. (Superior Prix) in Film Music Composition. Moved to San Francisco, California and from 1986-1990 worked as a freelance pianist in various Jazz and Salsa groups, taught composition, composed music for films and corporate videos, and was music editor on the Academy Award (Oscar) nominated short film ‘Liru’ (1987, Best Student Film category). In 1988 in Oakland California, formed a film production company where he worked as producer and composer.

Moved to Portugal in 1991, accepted post of Professor of Composition in Porto, composed two Ballets (1992 Porto; 1993 Lisbon) and worked as pianist, composer and arranger on several Portuguese music projects including ‚Novanguarde’, the contemporary chamber music ensemble, and the ‚Raul Marques E Os Amigos Da Salsa’ ensemble. In 1992, with saxophonist Mario Santos, formed the ‚George Letellier Quartet’ which toured Portugal extensively.

Moving to Luxembourg in 1995, he began by teaching privately and accepting commissions (BCEE; Paul Wurth Corporation; Tango Television; Big Band Spectrum; Opus 78 Big Band) as a freelance pianist/composer/arranger.

In 1997, with Harri Jokiharra, formed the original ‚Consabora Salsa Orchestra’. (Later re-named ‚Salsabor’) where he was the principle arranger and pianist.

In 2001 was commissioned by the Luxembourgish singer/actress Sascha Ley to arrange and perform ’Lost In The Stars’ (music by Kurt Weill). A collaboration that has continually evolved into other projects until today.

Co-composed the Musical ‘Alice Under Ground’ (MASKéNADA, Wiltz Festival 2002).

From 1997-2003 was the Director of Jazz Studies at the Esch Conservatoire. Wrote three booklets on the theory of Jazz (1997-1999). Since 2001 has taught Jazz at L’Ecole de Musique in Echternach.

As a pianist he has performed in hundreds of Jazz concerts and Theater productions in New York, New England, California, Portugal, Holland, Switzerland, Puerto Rico, Belgium, Spain, Luxembourg, Germany and France and has recorded with Clã, the Portuguese Acid Jazz group on the EMI music label. As a composer, in addition to film music and Ballets, he has composed a Capriccio for Piano and Orchestra, and has written contemporary and traditional classical chamber music, jazz tunes, Big Band arrangements, songs, music for children, and countless other vocal and instrumental compositions and arrangements for many diversified musical ensembles.

Performances in the USA and/or Europe with: Mario Santos, Lisa Berg, Bill Ortiz, Gregg Mazel, Chuck Isreals, Benoit Martiny, Aldo Romano, Diego Imbert, Diane Mower, Doni Tamblem, Raul Marques, Shlomit Butbul, Marc Demuth, Vania Lecuit, Paul Wiltgen, Ed Soph, Gary Boigon, Donald Regnier, Serge Bausch, Maxime Bender, Jan Ferguson, Achim Tang, Jimmy Hunter, Isabel Ventura, Claude Pauly, Boris Dinev, Helder Gonzalves, Tony Perrone, David Laborier, Karin Melchert, Derrick James, Al Ginter, Christophe Panzani, Carmen Wurth, Shawn McGloin, Mickey Zehren, Lena Sealy, Pedro Barrieros, Astrid Godart, Greg Lamy, Boris Schmidt, Romain Boden, Nadine Eder, Frank Agulhon, Stefano Agostini, Paul Fox, Anouk Hartmann, Joel Heyard, Patrick Agostini, Sacha Hack, Eric Teuwens, Jerome Goldschmidt, Roy Pagliarini, Sofia Rebeiro, Isabel Ventura, Serge Tonnar, Michel Ciccone, Jeannot Sanavia, Helmut 'Daisy' Becker, Jackie Brown, Al Lenners, Ernie Hammes, Jeff Herr, Eugene Bozzetti and Sascha Ley amongst many many others.

He plays straight ahead, modern and free Jazz. Also into Modern Classical, Funk/Soul, Blues, Salsa and Vocal music.

In the music school of Echternach he teaches piano, jazz piano, theory, guitar and drums, and has tons of students.....

When not giggin', composing/arranging or teaching he can be found at Cristy's Supper Club Productions.



Maxime Bender:

Born March 7th 1982
Instruments: Tenor, Soprano, Alto Saxophone, Flute, EWI (electronic woodwind instrument), piano
Studies:
From 1990-2004 basic studies in several music schools in Luxembourg Luxembourg ( école de musique d'Echternach, Consevatoire du Nord & Conservatoire de la Ville de Luxembourg).
High school studies :
2003-2004 Conservatoire National de Région in Strasbourg & CEDIM de Strasbourg with Roby Glod, Philippe Aubry, Michael Alizon & Bernard Struber a.o.
2004-2005 Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles with Steve Houben, Jean-Louis Rassinfosse & Guy Cabay a.o.
2005- … Musikhochschule Köln with Wolfgang Engstfeld, Frank Reinshagen, Joachim Ullrich a.o.
Masterclasses with Claudio Fasoli, Bob Mintzer, Didier Lockwood…a.o.
Bands:
- Maxime Bender « Cologne » Group
(personnel : Riaz Khabipour -gt. Makus Braun-b. Silvio Morger .drs. + Sebastian Sternal -p. Jens Böckamp-sax. Kathrin Scheer -voc.)
- Maxime Bender 4-tet
(personnel: Steven Cassiers -drs. Boris Schmidt -b. Bart vanCaenegem -p. )
-PRBH 4-tet
(personnel: Laurent Payfert -b. Sergio Rodrigues-p. Frank Hemmerlé-drs.)
-Underground
(personnel: Gilles Wagner -drs.Thibault Hanon -eb. )
-The Teachers:
(personnel: Ernie Hammes -tp. Donald Regnier -gt. George Letellier -p. Marc Demuth -b. Boris Dinev -drs.)
-Collectiv:
(personnel:Pascal Schumacher -vb. Marc Demuth –b. Mich Mootz -drs. Eduard Romano -tp.)
- The 3 Tenors :
(personnel: Jitz Jeitz -ts. Laurent Pierre -ts . Claude Schaus -p. Boris Schmidt -b. Mich Mootz -drs. )
Recordings:
As a leader :
- Maxime Bender “ Cologne” Group feat. David Binney (release in 2008)
- Maxime Bender 4tet “Emanon” (January 2006)
- Maxime Bender 4tet demo / unreleased (February 2004)

As a sideman:

- Benoît Martiny Group “Jazz goes garage” WPR (December 2004)
- Bigband du Conservatoire de musique de Luxembourg
- Bigband EME
- Bigband Telekurs
- Lupo & friends « Welcome to the house »
- Compilations (Midem 2006 ; Midem 2007 ; Jazz im Brunnenhof 2006 ; Jail + CCRN Compil) e.a.



Recordings for radio, television & film


Concerts:
In: Luxemburg, Germany, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Austria, England…
At: Bimhuis (Amsterdam) ; Sounds (Bruxelles) ; Hopper (Antwerpen) ; Loft (Köln) Stadtgarten (Köln) Domizil (Dortmund) ; Gaume Jazz festival (Belgique) ; Jazz im Brunnenhof (Trier) ; Philharmonie (Luxembourg) ; Jazz Ralley (Luxembourg), Fête de la musique e.t.c.

Played with:
DeeDee Bridgewater, Lalo Shifrin,George Duke, David Binney, Erwin Vann, Claude Pauly, Raquel Barreira, Michel Reis, Steven Cassiers, Ernie Hammes, Oliver Strauch, Sascha Ley, Leana Sealy, Pascal Schumacher, Yannick Peeters, Marc Demuth, ….
Teaching:

Maxime teaches jazz-saxophone at the music school in Echternach (Lux.)

Prizes :
- Elie Music Award 2007 (categorie Jazz + Blues)
Press:
For more detailed CV, press text or more infos about my current projects don't hesitate to contact me or visit www.maximebender.com or www.myspace.com/maximebendergroup


Boris Dinev
was born on 19th August 1955 in Sofia, Bulgaria. He graduated the Sofia Music School and enrolled into the Sofia Music Academy under the guidance of percussion professor Dobri Paliev.

Boris is co-founder of the percussion quartet Polyrhythmia, which performed in several major festivals throughout Europe, Japan, the former USSR, Cuba, Tunisia, Algeria, and other countries.

Polyrhythmia won the 3rd prize and was awarded the 'Audience Prize' on the First International Percussion Competition in Luxembourg in 1989.

Boris performed as a soloist in the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra and the Bulgarian Radio Orchestra, among others.

He performed with Bulgaria's most popular jazz musicians in various international music festivals, such as the Jazz Jamboree, Prague Jazz Fest, Sofia Jazz Meeting, Sibiu Jazz Fest, etc.



From 1981 to 1991, he worked as a professor at the Bulgarian Music Academy's Jazz Department.

Since 1991, Boris Dinev has been living in Luxembourg, lecturing at the Music School of Echternach and at the North Conservatory. He has been regularly playing in the Philharmonic Orchestra of Luxembourg (OPL), the Chamber Orchestra of Luxembourg (also known as Les Musiciens), and many other music formations.