Pablo Held (born 27 December 1986) is a German jazz pianist and composer.
Life and career Held was born on 27 December 1986."Pablo Held". Pirouet Records. Retrieved 12 December 2015. He is from Hagen. His father played the piano and introduced him to the music of Federico Mompou. Held was also influenced and taught by pianist John Taylor. Held won the WDR Improvisation Prize in 2011."Postcards from Cologne (2). The WDR Jazz Prizewinners Concert". (31 October 2011) London Jazz News.
Parts of a concert with guitarist John Scofield in Cologne in January 2014 were released as The Trio Meets John Scofield.Woodard, Josef (April 2015) "Pablo Held – The Trio Meets John Scofield". Down Beat. p. 56.Boeckstaens, Andy (23 December 2014) "CD Review: Pablo Held – The Trio Meets John Scofield". London Jazz News.
Held's album Recondita Armonia was reviewed by Down Beat: "Held puts an individual spin on the typical ballad album by drawing on all classical themes."Bambarger, Bradley (January 2016) "Pablo Held Trio – Recondita Armonia". Down Beat. p. 66.
Playing and composing style Pianist Kit Downes observed that Held "has developed a way of performing with his trio where all 3 of them know each others parts for every tune – so anyone can cue any part of any tune by just playing a small part of it (even if it's in the middle of another tune) – so that they then seamlessly link in other material to the mix".Downes, Kit (28 November 2013) "Preview: Kit Downes Writes About Pablo Held. Double Bill with Both Trios – Pizza Express. 5th December". London Jazz News.
Discography An asterisk (*) indicates that the year is that of release.
As leader/co-leader Year recordedTitleLabelPersonnel/Notes2007Forest of OblivionPirouetTrio, with Robert Landfermann (bass), Jonas Burgwinkel (drums)2009MusicPirouetTrio, with Robert Landfermann (bass), Jonas Burgwinkel (drums)2010GlowPirouetTen-piece band, with Sebastian Gille (tenor sax, soprano sax), Niels Klein (tenor sax, soprano sax, bass clarinet), Menzel Mutzke (trumpet), Kathrin Pechlof (harp), Hubert Nuss (celesta, harmonium), Henning Sieverts (bass, cello), Dietmar Fuhr and Robert Landfermann (bass), Jonas Burgwinkel (drums)2012LivePirouetTrio, with Robert Landfermann (bass), Jonas Burgwinkel (drums); in concert2013EldersPirouetSextet, with Jason Seizer (tenor sax), Domenic Landolf (alto flute), Ronny Graupe (guitar), Robert Landfermann (bass), Jonas Burgwinkel (drums)2014The Trio Meets John ScofieldPirouetQuartet, with John Scofield (guitar), Robert Landfermann (bass), Jonas Burgwinkel (drums); in concert2015*Recondita ArmoniaPirouetTrio, with Robert Landfermann (bass), Jonas Burgwinkel (drums)2016?LineagePirouetTrio, with Robert Landfermann (bass), Jonas Burgwinkel (drums)2017*Glow IIPirouetWith Niels Klein (saxes, clarinet), Philipp Gropper (tenor sax), Claus Stötter (trumpet), Ronny Graupe (guitar), Hubert Nuss (harmonium, celeste, pocket organ), Henning Sieverts and Robert Landfermann (bass), Jonas Burgwinkel (drums), Christian Weidner (alto sax), John Schröder (guitar); some tracks in concert2017InvestigationsEditionTrio, with Robert Landfermann (bass), Jonas Burgwinkel (drums)2019AscentEditionMost tracks quartet, with Nelson Veras (guitar), Robert Landfermann (bass), Jonas Burgwinkel (drums); one track quintet, with Jeremy Viner (clarinet) added; one track sextet, with Veronika Morscher (vocals) added2019DescentEditionQuartet, with Nelson Veras (guitar), Robert Landfermann (bass), Jonas Burgwinkel (drums)2020–21Embracing YouHopalitSolo, Pablo Held plays piano, celesta, mellotron & synthesizers2021AdventuresHopalitWith Nelson Veras (guitar), Robert Landfermann (bass), Jonas Burgwinkel (drums), EOS Chamber Orchestra conducted by Susanne Blumenthal2021BuoyancyHopalitQuartet, with Percy Pursglove (trumpet, flugelhorn), Kit Downes (organ), Leif Burger (drums)2022*Meet Me at the LoftHopalitVarious, recorded live at LOFT Köln during the "Pablo Held Meets" concert series2022Who We AreHopalitTrio, with Robert Landfermann (bass), Jonas Burgwinkel (drums)2023Trio Plays StandardsHopalitTrio, with Robert Landfermann (bass), Jonas Burgwinkel (drums)2023UnityHopalitQuartet, with Nelson Veras (guitar), Robert Landfermann (bass), Jonas Burgwinkel (drums)
As sideman Year recordedLeaderTitleLabel2012*AnthemPirouet2013*DiegesisPirouet2013LoomKlaeng2014*Cinema ParadisoPirouet2016*The Good ViewJazzsick2016*PoolpartyKlaeng
Gallery
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