16 Facts About Herb Geller

Herbert Arnold Geller was an American jazz saxophonist, composer and arranger.

At the age of 8, Geller was presented with an alto saxophone, purchased from a local music store owner and music teacher who was a family friend and had a used instrument for sale.

Herb Geller attended Dorsey High School in the southwestern part of Los Angeles and joined the school band which among others included the musicians Eric Dolphy and Vi Redd.

Later, Herb Geller worked in the bands of Louie Bellson and Benny Goodman.

Lorraine Herb Geller died of an acute asthma attack in 1958.

Deeply depressed, Herb Geller decided during a tour through Brazil with the Benny Goodman Orchestra not to return to the United States, but instead, to stay in Sao Paulo for six weeks playing bossa nova music at a local club and then depart on a ship to Europe.

Herb Geller accepted this engagement and performed there along with other Americans expatriates in Europe such as Benny Bailey, Joe Harris, and Nat Peck, as well as European musicians like Jerry van Rooyen, Ake Persson, and Francy Boland.

Herb Geller stayed there for three years and then accepted a contract to play lead alto and arrange for the big band of NDR in Hamburg.

Herb Geller taught at the Hochschule fur Musik in Hamburg until his retirement.

Herb Geller continued teaching jazz improvisation and composition, occasionally doing seminars at various national and international institutes.

Herb Geller wrote a method of improvisation called "crossover" for Schott and Sons.

Herb Geller was very proud of his friendship with Benny Carter, his adolescent hero, with whom he recorded and performed.

Herb Geller participated at the Hollywood Bowl celebrations for Carter's ninetieth birthday in 1997.

Herb Geller died of pneumonia in a hospital in Hamburg, Germany, aged 85, on December 19,2013.

Herb Geller had been undergoing treatment the past 12 months for a form of lymphoma.

Herb Geller is interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.