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Steve Houben Born in a musical family - his mother is a classical pianist, his father an amateur jazzman -, but it is another family member, and a celebrity, saxophonist Jacques PELZER who introduces him to jazz and will have a strong influence on his career. Together they will found the band OPEN SKY UNIT.
In the mid seventies, he attends courses at the Berklee College of Music in Boston.
On return to Belgium he creates, with Henri POUSSEUR, the Jazz Seminar at the Li¨¨ge Conservatory.
During the same period, he brings over to Europe some US musicians and forms the groups Solstice first, then Mauve Traffic (with Bill FRISELL, Greg BADOLATO, Kermit DRISCOLL, Michel HERR, Vinnie JOHNSON, with whom he worked in Europe and released the album "Oh Boy" (MD).
He played with some legendary names like Chet BAKER (he recorded with him), Mike STERN, George COLEMAN, Gerry MULLIGAN, Clark TERRY, Jon EARDLEY, Joe NEWMAN, etc.
Composer, arranger and free-lance musician, he recorded several albums as a leader.
In '82 he recorded the album Steve Houben + Strings, with a band composed of 6 jazz musicians and a string section of 21 musicians. A remixed CD version of the album was released in 1995 (IGLOO - IGL121).
Performed in trio with Charles LOOS and MAURANE under the name "HLM" (IGLOO - IGL 043), or also with LOOS and Ali RYERSON ("Vagabondages", Igloo - IGL093), etc...
He recorded the album Steve HOUBEN & Michel HERR meet Curtis LUNDY & Kenny WASHINGTON with one of the greatest US rhythm sections of the moment (B. Sharp CDS 094).
He also led COCODRILO, a fusion group with European musicians.
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