Born
in Bonn, the violinist Valentin Gregor enjoys a repertoire ranging
from the violin and voice to the viola. Otto Kirchenmaier, former
concertmaster at the Beethoven Hall in Bonn, began giving lessons
to the boy of seven, directing him towards a classical education in
music. This path never quite seemed to suit Gregor's temperament,
for he was searching for the musical means of expression outside the
classical repertoire.
He could soon be heard in Hannover performing
with a gypsy swing band. He then started an a capella group "Echo
Echo" (presently "Meier & die Geier") together with Hans-Werner Meyer,
Volker Dittmann and Christian Taube. The band later signed a contract
with WEA Records Hamburg. In 1988, he became acquainted with a jazz
violinist by the name of Hajo Hoffmann, an encounter that inspired
the young musician to begin his studies in "jazz violin" that very
year at the College of Music, Cologne, where he graduated in 1992.
While touring with the wellknown german acapella band "Sechszylinder"
(1992-1994) Valentin Gregor performed as singer and had about 350
concerts and TV-shows throughout Europe.
From there he journeyed to
Boston, more specifically to the Berklee College of Music. This was
followed by seminal concert performances with jazz greats including
Stephane Grappelli, Herb Geller, Ed Harris, Ed Schuller, Duduka da
Fonseca, Hans Glawischnig and Nicolas Simion, performing at venues
in such cities as Boston, New York, San Francisco, Atlanta and Portland.
In 1999, Valentin Gregor met the pianist Ekkehard Wölk at the
Berlin Jazz-Club "b-flat". This turned out to be more than just a
chance encounter. The two shooting stars of the Berlin music scene
formed the group DUO ESCAPADE, producing their first two collaborative
albums, "Songs Of Imagination" and "Tribute to Charles Spencer Chaplin".
Gregor is currently introducing the first CD - titled "This Way Please"
- as part of a Valentin Gregor Quartet with international renowned
musicians Martin Lillich - bassist (records with Charlie Mariano,
Enrico Rava, Benny Bailey, Mikis Theodorakis, Billy Bang, Perry Robinson)
and Andrea Marcelli - drummer (tours and records of various albums
with Wayne Shorter, Allan Holdsworth, John Patitucci, Mike Stern,
Gary Thomas, Ralph Towner, Marc Johnson, Dave Liebman). No wonder
that this Quartet came to be award-winner at the prestigious "Berlin
Jazz and Blues Award 2002". |
