Erwin VANN tilts toward jazz since a young age. After eight years of classic, he decides to devote himself entirely to jazz.
He Studied with Steve COLEMAN, Dave HOLLAND, Muhal Richard ABRAMS, Kenny WHEELER, Julian PRIESTER…(1988 and 1991)
He participated in Jazz Workshop at the Banff Centre for the Arts (Canada), David LIEBMAN (Saxophone Master Class, Stroudsburg, USA), Joe LOVANO, who recorded one of Erwin’s compositions on his album “Solid Steps”(1986, Jazz Club Records).
Since 1985, Erwin VANN works regularly for the Belgian Radio and Television (VRT/RTBF) as a soloist, composer, studio musician and member of the Jazz Orchestra.
He performed in a lot of clubs and at major festivals : Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, Mardel Jazz Festival” Buenos Aires, “Expo’92” Sevilla, International Festival of Babylonia, … with musicians such as Toots THIELEMANS, Aldo ROMANO, Norma WINSTONE, Kenny WHEELER, joe LOVANO, Wayne SHORTER, Paolo FRESU (CD “Wanderlust” RCA/BMG), Eric LEGNINI, Marc DUCRET, Bruno CASTELLUCCI (CD “Stringtet” Quetzal), Michel BENITA, Karl BERGER, Michel HERR, Lindsey HORNER (CD “Mercy Angel” Upshot Records,CD “Believers” Koch Jazz), Jeff WILLIAMS, Rita MARCOTULLI, Paul VAN KEMENADE, Eric VAN DER WESTEN (CD “The Working Dreamer” BV Haast, CD “Diepkloof” HLM, Rush Hour etc…), Hein VAN DE GEYN (CD “The North Sea Jazz Tentet” September Records), Nugyen Lé, Simon GOUBERT, Bobby PREVITE, Nguyen LE… In 1990, Erwin VANN forms his own Trio with Michel HATZIGEORGIOU on Fender bass and Dré PALLEMAERTS. on drums (‘91: “Some Sounds” Jazz Club Records ( (record of the month in “Jazz in Time” and the FNAC).), ‘96: “Eleven” Carbon 7 Records). Since ‘96, the trio invites guitarists such as Pete McCANN(USA), Marc DUCRET (F), Jacques PIROTTON (B) to join the band or becomes a quartet with the addition of pianist Christoph ERBSTÖSSER (D).
Read more
In December ’98, Erwin VANN was voted “Best Belgian Tenor Saxophonist of 1998” (VRT/RTBF Jazz Referendum, Listeners Choice) . Previously, he received the “SPES Prize” (1995) for ”Worlds”, a project for large ensemble featuring Kenny WHEELER and Norma WINSTONE (CD Worlds released in ’99 on JAS records). He won the “Sax of the Best Soloist of the Year 1991” (critics nomination) and in 1989, he was elected “Best Soloist” at the Brussels Jazz Rallye.
Erwin VANN was a former member of the faculty at the Royal Conservatories of Brussels and Ghent. He now teaches saxophone and harmony at the Conservatories of Luxemburg and Antwerp and is also regularly asked to teach at jazz seminars in Belgium and abroad.
In the fall of 1998, together with Dré Pallemaerts (drums, sampling, programming) and Otti (electric bass, effects), Erwin VANN forms the group MOTHER, an exciting drum’n’bass project.
Erwin VANN also recently presented solo concerts, combining the sax with live electronics and various effects, under the name “KO-YA”.
Erwin is also known as a composer, a.o. for his own “Worlds” project, but also for various other bands, such as Bruno CASTELLUCCI’s Stringtet, the Brussels Jazz Orchestra or even contemporary piano music.
He also worked for film and for dance companies David PRESSAULT in Canada, Ziyian KWANI.
He also presents a QUARTET, an extension of his trio with the addition of electric pianist Jozef DUMOULIN.
Erwin VANN appears on more than 4 albums.
Read less
Hautes Fagnes
