HERMAN SCHOONDERWALT

Herman Schoonderwalt

Herman Schoonderwalt (Eindhoven, 23 December 1931 – Bosch en Duin, 15 June 1997) starts out as a clarinetist in the local brass band, plays in a dixieland band after the end of WW II, and switches to bebop at the instigation of bassist Dick Bezemer, joining the latter's ...
Full biography

Instruments

altsaxofoon, arrangeur, baritonsaxofoon, basklarinet, componist, contrabas, dirigent, fluit, klarinet, producer, sopraansaxofoon, tenorsaxofoon

Mentioned in the biography of

1947   Henk Meutgeert
1952   Ado Broodboom
1954   Rita Reys
1955   Børge Ring
1962   Eddy Doorenbos
1975   Alan Laurillard
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Biography Herman Schoonderwalt

Herman Schoonderwalt (Eindhoven, 23 December 1931 – Bosch en Duin, 15 June 1997) starts out as a clarinetist in the local brass band, plays in a dixieland band after the end of WW II, and switches to bebop at the instigation of bassist Dick Bezemer, joining the latter's Dick's Jumping Six. In 1952 he picks up the alto saxophone with the intention of making a living purely a jazz musician. Because of his flexibility he is in demand as a musician for radio, television, film and the recording industry – largely playing commercial music. He is a highly professional musician who shies away from publicity, and cherishes a great love for jazz. 'Jazz music is very important to me. The most important thing of all, really – apparently I was born with rhythm. And that's the most important feature of jazz.' (interview in the magazine Haagse Post, 1964).

Played in

Millers   klarinet
Netherlands Concert Jazz Band  
Skymasters   dirigent, saxofoon

1953

Schoonderwalt becomes a professional musician in bassist Fred Loggen (later: Freddy Logan)'s combo, and starts playing in Germany.

1954

Tours Sweden with trumpeter Ado Broodboom, a.k.a. Ado Moreno.

1955

First recordings with the Dutch All Stars for Columbia, and with his own septet for Philips in the series Jazz Behind The Dikes.

1956 - 1960

He visits Spain with Bob van Waasdijk's orchestra. Becomes a member of the Millers, and also plays in their reunion concerts, producing many records (until 1977). He also partakes in their engagement at the Rotterdam venue De Wieck until 1961. He records with singer Rita Reys and drummer Wessel Ilcken (for Philips), again for the Jazz Behind The Dikes series; plus four titles with the brothers Pim & Ruud Jacobs (1958). Herman Schoonderwalt can also be heard on all three EPs by the Rhythme All Stars (1958-1960), a selection of the best Dutch jazz musicians based on the annual readers' poll Rhythme magazine.

Millers Pim Jacobs Rita Reys Ruud Jacobs Wessel Ilcken

1960

American critic Leonard Feather includes Herman Schoonderwalt in his New Encyclopedia Of Jazz.

1961

He tours India and Pakistan with Ruud Kuyper's group; Boy Edgar includes him in the reed section of Boy's Big Band.

Boy Edgar

1963

Herman Schoonderwalt is the first musician to be awarded the Wessel Ilcken Prijs (the major Dutch jazz award). As a follow-up he records the LP The Winner in 1964, but this doesn't help him to achieve any fame either. During the 60s he leads the 'Hobby-orkest', together with pianist Frans Elsen and trumpeter Cees Smal.

1964 - 1966

He composes the film score for Mensen Van Morgen (directed by Kees Brusse). Recording sessions with Rita Reys and Boy's Big Band. He works in various orchestras for radio and television accompanying shows like Hadimassa and Zo Is Het Toevallig Ook Nog Eens Een Keer. He starts his own quartet in which the later leader of the Jazz Orchestra Of The Concertgebouw, Henk Meutgeert, is the pianist for fifteen years. Meutgeert claims to have learned a great deal from Schoonderwalt in this period.

1970 - 1984

Contributes to a Ben Webster LP, and records an LP with Swiss drummer Charly Antolini. He also accompanies and makes arrangements for singers and entertainers like Astrid Nijgh, Conny van den Bos, the Pink Elephants, Adèle Bloemendaal, Wilma Reading, Koot & Bie, Wieteke van Dort and Lee Towers.

1984

Tours Canada with the reassembled version of the Ramblers.

1985

Arranges and plays music for the ballet Band Stand with the Nederlands Danstheater.

1986 - 1996

Succeeds Tony Nolte as leader of the Skymasters, taking part in radio and television broadcasts for the AVRO broadcasting company, and touring the US. He makes arrangements for the Metropole Orchestra and the Netherlands Concert Jazz Band, of which he is also a member. Produces his own studio CDs with met New Age-type music.

Skymasters

Photos Herman Schoonderwalt

Audio/Video Herman Schoonderwalt