Erwin Hoorweg (1963) is a Dutch pianist, composer and arranger who works from his music studio in Rotterdam.

Studied at the conservatory in Hilversum with Jan Huydts and Rob Madna. Starts his career as a pianist with the VARA, the musical CATS in Carré and comedian Henk Elsink.

After his time at the conservatory he joins the jazz sextet de Houdini's, a group that was initially described as a hard bop sextet, in the tradition of Art Blakey, but in which he plays an increasingly important role as a composer/arranger over the years. He records countless CDs with the Houdinis, including two in the legendary studio of Rudy van Gelder in New Jersey. They receive a golden nutcracker, play regularly at the North Sea Jazz Festival, the Amsterdam concert hall and tours in Australia, Canada and the USA. Working and recording with Frank Boeyen, John Adams, Jacob Ter Velthuis, the Schönberg Ensemble and Sinfonietta Amsterdam, among others. The CD Strange Fruit with Trijntje Oosterhuis is released on the Blue Note label, and as a jazz CD in the charts with double platinum status.

As an arranger he has worked with several important orchestras in the Netherlands, including the Noordpool Orkest, the Metropool Orkest, the Mariniers Kapel and artists including Gino Vannelli, Kaz Lux and Thijs van Leer.

As a keyboardist/pianist with his own bands including the Auratones, Ugly White Belly and The Jazzinvaders.

Erwin Hoorweg is a musician who applies intuition and inner feeling throughout all of his work. He associates with composers like Thelonious Monk, J.S. Bach and Carla Bley. He is inspired by creating music with others. While playing music, he will discover for example sound clusters that touch him emotionally, or rhythmic patterns that are an incentive to experiment. Erwin will then search for an accompanying melody.

In other musical instances, he notices contrasts or gaps; these type of elements inspire him to continue searching and exploring. He adds surprising elements a la Monk, by applying shifts or changes to what a musician or the audience will traditionally expect.

Erwin considers bound elements, like a given musician, a band or a specific orchestral arrangement, a movie or a shape to be a challenge leading to creative solutions, rather than a limitation. While composing, he will add elements originating from jazz, pop, latin, impro and world music giving the composition temporarily a different level of energy. This energy shakes up the audience while creating an exciting blend of accessible and groundbreaking music.

He uses the instrumentation capabilities that are available within a band. He stimulates musicians by applying contrast, shifts and differences in dynamics, increasing the probability of challenging the musicians to discover a new spectrum of sound colors, possibilities, dynamics and diversity.

Houdini's

The Houdini's; since a quarter of a century one of the leading Dutch hardbop ensembles. The six musicians released more than 10 international albums and they toured in Europe, USA, Australia and Canada.
Cooperated with artists like Anton Goudsmit, Kim Hoorweg, Amsterdam Sinfonietta, Schoenberg-ensemble, Trijntje Oosterhuis, Gino Vannelli, Jazz Orchestra Of The Concertgebouw, Jacob ter Velthuis and Frank Boeijen

Eric van der Westen's Private Time Machine

A contemporary time travel through the heavy rock of Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple, the energetic jazz of Mingus, Miles and Coltrane, the very dancable, groovy funk of Sly Stone & Urban Dance Squad and the dreaminess of Pink Floyd and Yes as starting point.

Gewoon Hoorweg

Father, son and daughter Hoorweg
All three of them successful on their own in music, now together on stage with a brand new program. Each of them has their own input and challenges the others.

New Niks

The quartet without bass by drummer Arend Niks, whose compositions remind us to the soundtracks, cartoons and the virtuos extravangancy of Frank Zappa and Raymond Scott. 3 albums, projects with Artsark SQ and Leopold Witte, various tours and festivals & 2 x North Sea Jazz

Bongomatik (until 2012)

A mixture of fresh latin, energetic pop and groovy jazz with a wink.

The Auratones (until 2011)

Soul-jazz with latin and world influences: funkin' hard, original and dancable. Jazz with a beat: a combination of groovy music and the freedom of jazz improvisation.
4 albums, cooperated with Gerard Presencer, Thijs van Leer, Bo Saris, E-Life among others. Various international tours and festivals, among which North Sea Jazz

The Jazzinvaders (until 2009)

Originated in 2005 during a session in Bimhuis in Amsterdam where Phil Martin's beats mingled with the jazzy sound of The Houdini's.
2 CD's, tour in Japan and many festivals, among which North Sea Jazz

Ugly White Belly (until 1997)

The 'electronic jazz' of Ugly White Belly is no music for purists. Compositions by Hoorweg & Delfos, containing style elements from hardbop, other jazz genres and pop. Groovy melodies varied with intimate bass ballads.

2016: Houdini's & Anton Goudsmit: How Blue 's The Blues

Seven North-western European jazz musicians trying to trace the music back to its roots. Concerts in Amsterdam: BIM huis, Rotterdam: Lantaren Venster, Tilburg: Paradox, Utrecht: Vredenburg.

2016: Eric van der Westen's PLAYGROUND

Eric van der Westen (bass), Guido Nijs (saxes), Aron Raams (guitar), Marc Schenk (drums) and Erwin Hoorweg (keys).

2014-2015: Houdini's & Frans van Deursen play Woodstock

Tour with Frans van Deursen. The CD release took place in januari 2015. It received several positive reviews.

2013: Houdini's In Time

Lots of new repertoire combined with pieces from their 25th anniversary. No matter whether they are considered icons or not, their music is still bursting at the seams with energy. So not 'grey, bald and slowed-down', but 'grey, bald and fully into it'.

2012: Back To The Roots

Theatre tour by Shirma Rouse and Kim Hoorweg; musical director: Erwin Hoorweg.

2011-2012: Jazzbits

Theater tour by Bongomatik, directed by Keimpe de Jong

2009-2010: Busy, Busy, Busy

New Niks & Artvark combine their strengths.

2008-2009: De Broekneus

John Buijsman for Toneelgroep Oostpool with Keimpe de Jong and Peer Wittenbols. Repeated during The Parade in 2009.

2002 & 2008: Chasin' The General

A live performance of The Houdini's in the Concertgebouw in a co-production with the Film museum, playing their own compositions as music score for "The General" by Buster Keaton touring 10 theaters in 2008.

2007: Doosje Dia's (Box with slides)

Educational performance by New Niks with Leopold Witte for the Orkater theater (including performances at the Amsterdam Concertgebouw)

2004-2005: Amsterdam Sinfonietta & Trijntje Oosterhuis, conductor Wayne Marshall

Erwin is responsible for all arrangements and is keyboard player with The Houdini's. Two projects with the Amsterdam Sinfonietta & Trijntje Oosterhuis. Concert series touring large stages (Amsterdam Concertgebouw, the Doelen).

Album ON:(New Niks 2012)

• Happy Backpacker On The Wrong Track
• Listen! Oh It's Gone

Project Houdini's In Time:(Houdini's 2012-2013)

• A Proven Set Of Facts
• No More Projects
• Sawdust In Space
• Houdini's In Space
• Houdini's In Time

Jubileumconcert Henny Lodewijks:(Orpheus 2012)

• Ten Parts Of A Bigger Picture (Suite voor Jasper Le Clerq & Arend Niks)

Project Jazzbits:(Bongomatik 2011-2012)

• Happy Weather
• Introducing Jorge Cruz

Album Blow:(Jazzinvaders 2008)

• The Sun In Motion
• Max Roach
• Art Mbekie
• Blow
• Waltz Of Glory
• What The Bleep

Album Up & Out:(Jazzinvaders 2007)

• Movements
• Wo Ya
• Black
• Die Erste Kugel hat Mich Doch Schon Fertig Gemacht

Album Mazzu Mazzu:(Auratones 2004)

• What's Up, Phil?
• Mazzu Mazzu
• 23rd Of November
• Please Stay Cool
• The Power Of Love

Album Chasin' The General:(Houdini's 2002)

• Chasin' the General
• Not Funny
• Pour Vous Madame
• Choosing Means Losing
• Loco-motion
• No Nonsense
• Mr. Keaton
• Old & Fashioned
• Soul Dust
• Next Door To Alice

Album Jazz Jazz jazz(Auratones 2002)

• Jazz, Jazz, jazz
• A Stirring Yankee Doodle
• Dizzy

Album Stripped To the Bone(Houdini's 2000)

• Loaded
• Dutch Touch

Album An Angel's Work Is Never Done:(Tois 1998)

• Knees Up

Album Cooee:(Houdini's 1997)

• Down Under

Album Funny Sounds:(Auratones 1997)

• Shebang

Album Binc:(Ugly White Belly 1997)

• Binc
• Mr. grey Shoes
• Picknippin'
• The Art Student

Album Hybrid:(Houdini's 1994)

• Hybrid
• Too Heavy To Carry
• No More Yesterdays
• Skywards
• Don't Abuse Our Patience!
• Sancti et Houdinii
• Long Hair Shuffle
• A Minor Boogie Riff

Album South Of No North:(Ugly White Belly 1994)

• Dances With Rolf's
• Tournedos Rossini
• Rotating Girls
• Nothing but A Memory
• Yeah Suffer Baby
• Tuvalu
• Pega Pega

Album Kickin' In The front Window:(Houdini's 1993)

• Kickin' In The Front Window
• Mooses Mood
• Bouncin' Mario
• Fat Groupie

Album Headlines:(Houdini's 1992)

• Headlines
• Gertrude's Favourite
• Lullaby
• Blue Ribon Jury
• C.W.
• Another Fawn

Album Live @ Paradox:(Houdini's 1990)

• Kaatje

link	Listen! Oh It's Gone New Niks & Zapp in Lantaren Venster (VPRO radio)
link	Chasin' The General The Houdini's
link	Mr. Keaton Solo piano
link	What's Up Phil The Auratones
link	Happy Backpacker On the Wrong Track New Niks
link	Knees Up Trio Toîs
link	Loaded The Houdini's
link	Die Erste Kugel Hat Mich Doch Schon Fertig Gemacht Jazzinvaders

Mini-Docu over de Hoorwegen
NPO2

Optreden in de Koorzaal
Concertgebouw

Ten Parts Of A Bigger Picture
(composition)

Choosin' Means Loosin'
(composition)

Black Coffee
duo Kim & Erwin Hoorweg

Woman On Top - Gino Vannelli
(arrangement)

All Of Me - Trijntje Oosterhuis
(arrangement)

Why Don't You Do Right
(arrangement)

Bart Wirtz/Digging Dirt Nothing New
(New Niks & Art Vark SQ)

Rotterdam
Jazztown

2015	Thom Hoorweg Two Faced Harlem Recordings
2015	The Houdini's & Frans van Deursen play Woodstock Gloep
2012	New Niks ON!
2012	Shirma Rouse & Kim Hoorweg Dedicated To You Challenge met onder andere Benjamin Herman & Jeffrey Bruinsma
2011	The Auratones & Thijs van Leer The Adventure Continues Challenge
2011	Kim Hoorweg & The Houdini's Why Don't You Do Right Challenge
2011	Bongomatik Bongomatik No Can Do
2011	Mijke Loeven Loeven Harmonia Mundi
2010	Eric van der Westen The Divine Cockeyed Glimpse EWM
2010	Gino Vannelli A Good Thing CMM
2010	New Niks & Artvark SQ Busy, busy, busy No Can Do
2009	Kim Hoorweg My Recipe For A Happy Life Universal/Verve met onder andere Candy Dulfer & Berget Lewis
2008	Jazzinvaders Blow Social Beats
2007	The Houdini's Unleashed Social Beats
2007	Kim Hoorweg Kim Is Back Universal/Verve
2007	Jazzinvaders Up & Out Social Beats
2005	Trijntje Oosterhuis, New Sinfonietta & The Houdini's Strange Fruit EMI/Blue Note
2004	New Niks Pinguin Village No Can Do
2004	The Auratones Mazzu, Mazzu STM met onder andere Gerard Presencer & Postman
2002	De Gekke Gezichten Ontbijtshow met onder andere Barry Hay, Mieke Stemerdink, Martin van Agt
2002	The Houdini's Chasin' the General Munich Records
2002	The Auratones Jazz, Jazz, Jazz STM
2002	De Rogier van Otterloo Files Munich Records met onder andere Ed Verhoeff, Angelo Verploegen & Guli Gudmundsson
2001	Jacob ter Veldhuis Heart Breakers Emergo Classics
2000	The Houdini's Stripped to the Bone Challenge
2000	Brandage, A tribute To Dollar Brand met onder andere Jan van Duikeren
1999	In de Maneschijn met onder andere Esther Hart
1999	Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw Festival 1999, part I
1998	The Houdini's Live at Kiama Jazz Festival in Australia Challenge
1998	Marinierskapel Masters Of Show met onder andere Henk Meutgeert & Rob Pronk
1997	Mijke Loeven Band Two Via Records
1997	The Houdini's Cooee Challenge
1997	Ugly White Belly Binc Via Records
1997	The Auratones Funny Sounds Red Bullet
1995	The Houdini's play The Big Five Challenge
1995	The Houdini's & Nieuw Sinfonietta Porgy & Bess Suite Channel Classics
1994	The Houdini's Hybrid Challenge
1994	Kaz Lux Pupka Munich Records
1994	Ugly White Belly South Of No North Timeless Records
1993	The Houdini's Kickin' In The Frontwindow Timeless Records
1993	Frank Boeijen Jazz In Barcelona BMG
1992	The Houdini's in New York Timeless Records
1990	The Houdini's Live At Paradox Timeless Records