Jazz Festival > Program > ARBENZ & MEHARI & VERAS
Monday, March 17, 2025 ● AASSM Large Hall ● 20.30
ARBENZ & MEHARI & VERAS
Florian Arbenz, drums
Nelson Veras, guitar
Hermon Mehari, trumpet
Florian Arbenz, drums
One of Europe’s most versatile and accomplished drummers, Florian Arbenz has an unsurpassed jazz pedigree with the acclaimed Swiss trio VEIN. Florian came to jazz through acquaintances such as Kirk Lightsey and Famadou Don Moye, and studied with Ed Thigpen and Steve Smith. He is also a classically trained percussionist, with extensive international orchestral experience, and has performed with Peter Eötvös, György Kurtag and Christoph von Dohnanyi, among others.
As a student, he spent six months at Cuba’s University of the Arts, and has maintained an active interest in the international scene ever since, incorporating elements from Asian technique, as well as Afro-Cuban, in his own playing.
Florian follows the careers of such cutting-edge practitioners as Chris Dave, and Eric Harland very closely, and hones his own technique with a similarly innovative focus.
Hermon Mahari, trumpet
In an attempt to pioneer a new sound while exploring his Eritrean origins, trumpeter Hermon Mehari composed an album entirely influenced by the harmonies, rhythms, and melodies of Eritrean music. However, this work, “Asmara” (Komos), doesn’t just come from his musicianship - the songs have an emotional bent and express the different aspects of his perspectives towards relationship with his family and culture. The compositions are interpreted with personality and fervor by pianist/vibraphonist Peter Schlamb, bassist Luca Fattorini, and drummer Gautier Garrigue, and Mehari brings on legendary Eritrean vocalist Faytinga as a guest for two numbers.
Hermon Mehari’s 2020 sophomore album , “A Change For the Dreamlike”
(MiRR), takes on a more personal tone. Written and recorded in a barn in the French countryside during the pandemic lockdowns, it only hints at the aesthetic set by his previous debut album. The project features a number of incredible musicians: Tony Tixier, Peter Schlamb, Ryan J. Lee, Kae Dilla, DeAndre Manning, Hugo LX, Karl McComas-Reichl, Jeff Hill and Zach Morrow.
Although he already had a growing reputation, the success of Mehari’s debut album, “Bleu”, put him firmly on the musical map in 2017. “Bleu” includes ECM recording artist Aaron Parks on piano, Blue Note recording artist Logan Richardson on alto saxophone, Peter Schlamb on vibraphone, Ryan J. Lee on drums and Rick Rosato on bass.
Mehari was winner of the 2015 Carmine Caruso International Trumpet
Competition and a semifinalist in the 2014 Thelonious Monk Jazz Competition. In 2014 he released the CD “Our Journey” with Diverse, - his second with the group.
Mehari maintains a touring schedule around the world with his own group and als0 as a sideman. He was also winner of the 2008 National Trumpet Competition and placed 2nd in the International Trumpet Guild competition in Sydney, Australia.
As a founding member of Diverse, whose eponymous debut album on Seattle-based Origin Records reached the Top 40 on the Jazzweek Radio Charts, he has performed professionally with noted saxophonists Jaleel Shaw, Logan Richardson, Bobby Watson, Ben Van Gelder, and Tivon Pennicott.
He has also performed with Aaron Parks, Joe Sanders, Hubert Laws, Randy Brecker, Tony Tixier, Dave Pietro, Clay Jenkins and many other great musicians.
Hermon Mehari received his BM in Jazz Performance from the University of Missouri - Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance in 2010.
In addition to performing, he dedicates himself to being a serious educator, runs a weekly musical radio program called “The Session” on the NPR-affiliated station KCUR 89.3, is an artistic director of the Collectif MiRR and has participated in arts related clinics and panels around the world.
Nelson Veras, guitar
Born in 1977 in Brazil, Nelson Veras developed a unique style based on a mix of classical guitar, contemporary jazz and his Brazilian roots!
Nelson Veras moved to France at the age of 14 and immediately caught the attention of a large audience after appearing on a special TV show playing with Pat Metheny. At 16, he formed his first band, a quartet, with Eric Barret, Michel Benita and Aldo Romano, performing with them at renowned festivals such as Jazz in Marciac and the Nice Jazz Festival.
At the same time, he was part of Aldo Romano’s band with Palle Daniellson and Stefano Di Batista, and joined the Michel Petrucciani sextet ‘Young Lions’.
At the age of 20, he was one of 3 winners at the 1998 ‘Premio Visa of Brazilian Music’, along with Hamilton de Hollanda and Andre Mehmari.
In 2001, he played with Lee Konitz, Gary Peacock and Aldo Romano in a tribute concert for Michel Petrucciani.
He recorded his first solo CD on Label Bleu in 2003,with Magic Malik, Harmen
Fraanje and Stéphane Galland and in 2004/2005, he toured and recorded with Steve Coleman’s Five Elements. !
His solo guitar CD was released on Beejazz in 2009, and in 2011, he recorded a trio CD with bassist Thomas Morgan and drummer Stéphane Galland on the same label, each of these disks receiving extremely positive acclaim from both the professional press and the general public.
Other collaborations include: Richard Galliano, Octurn, Manu Katché, Aka Moon, Tomasz Stanko, Eric Le Lann, Mark Turner, Gary Thomas, Greg Osby, Benoît Delbecq, Jozef Dumoulin, Marc Ducret, Airelle Besson, Jonathan Kreisberg, Rick Margitza, Miroslav Vitous, Dre Pallemaerts, Alain Jean-Marie, Billy Cobham, Jon Faddis, Johnny Griffin, David Linx, Eric Legnini,Abraham Laboriel , Linley Marthe, Etienne m’Bappe, Moktar Samba, Toninho Horta,U. Sivaraman, Marcia Maria, Rita Marcottulli, Aydin Essen, Furio di Castri, Adam Pieronczyk, Peter Bernstein, Frank Mobus, Jesse Van Ruller, Hein Van de Geyn, Andre Ceccarelli, Linda Oh, Ziv Ravitz, Curtis Fowler, Jonathan Finlayson, David Virelles, Gerald Cleaver, Marylin Mazur, Jen Shyu, Michel Grailler, Jean Francois Jenny Clark, Jean Jacques Avenel, Glenn Ferris, Jean Michel Pilc, Riccardo del Fra, Robertinho Silva, Marcio Montarroyos, Jeff Gardner, Martijn Vink, Fabian Fiorini, Gautier Capucon, Marcus Gilmore, Tyshawn Sorey, Dafnis Prieto, Vincent Segal, Minino Garay, Anga Diaz, Prabhu Edouard, Daniel Humair, Stephane Edouard, Jean Pierre Como, Michelle Hendricks, David Venitucci, and Renaud Garcia Fons.
Nelson Veras has given numerous workshops around the world and has also taught at the ‘Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris’ (CNSM).
