Herb Geller, a renowned American alto saxophonist and clarinettist, demonstrated exceptional proficiency on both instruments by the tender age of ten. Born into a family with a strong musical heritage, his mother was a skilled piano accompanist for silent films, instilling in Geller a deep appreciation for music from an early age.
Inspired by a captivating performance of Benny Carter at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles, Geller decided to pursue a career as a professional musician. In 1946, at the age of eighteen, he joined the esteemed big band of Joe Venuti on the West Coast. Following a stint with trumpeter and arranger Billy May, Geller relocated to New York, where he worked with renowned orchestras led by Claude Thornhill and Jerry Wald.
Geller's impressive career continued with stints in smaller combos featuring prominent West Coast musicians, including the legendary Chet Baker, Maynard Ferguson, Shelly Manne, and Marty Paich. He also briefly co-led a quartet with his wife, the accomplished bop pianist Lorraine Walsh. Tragically, her sudden death from pulmonary edema in 1958 prompted Geller to leave the United States.
Geller subsequently embarked on a European tour, visiting South America, Germany, Lisbon, and Paris before settling in Hamburg, where he became a sought-after session musician, playing bebop in the style of Charlie Parker. For three years, beginning in 1962, he played with the orchestra of West Berlin's RIAS radio station and operated a successful nightclub.
From 1965, Geller was a fixture at the NDR (Norddeutscher Rundfunk) radio big band as an arranger and leader, while also making recordings for Enja Records, Fresh Sound, and V.S.O.P. alongside top musicians such as Ella Fitzgerald, Max Roach, and Louie Bellson.
