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Harry Pepl * 1945  † 2005

bass clarinet, saxophone, bandoneon

Michel Portal

1935 – † 2026

From 1984 Pepl played in Portal's group (Portal Unit) and contributed to “Turbulence” and “Men's Land”; in 1997 they met again at the Inntöne Festival (jazz festival in Diersbach, Upper Austria).

Played with him

Stage at the Amiens jazz festival, France, May 1987: in front two saxophonists and the double bass, seated on the left Harry Pepl with his guitar. From left: Harry Pepl, Dave Liebman, Michel Portal with the alto saxophone and Jean-François Jenny-Clark on double bass. Names as given by the photographer Frank Lantiez, matching the line-up of “Men's Land”, the live album recorded at the same festival.
Michel Portal's group in Amiens 1987Photo: Frank Lantiez

French clarinettist and saxophonist, born on 27 November 1935, died on 12 February 2026.

Recordings together

Listen and watch

Michel Portal: Pastor (Men's Land) (Men's Land, 1987)

1987 · Label Bleu, 1987

“Pastor” (Michel Portal), 8:42, from the album “Men’s Land” (Label Bleu, on the 1988 CD only): Michel Portal with Jean-François Jenny-Clark (double bass) and Harry Pepl (guitar), line-up according to the BnF. In 2020 Daniel Pepl suggested for the Ö1 radio programme a crossfade with the version from the album “Turbulence”.

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Michel Portal: Pastor (Turbulence) (Turbulence, 1987)

1987 · Harmonia Mundi, 1987

“Pastor” (Michel Portal), 5:29, from the album “Turbulence” (Harmonia Mundi, 1987): Michel Portal (bass clarinet), Harry Pepl (guitar), Jean-François Jenny-Clark (double bass), Daniel Humair (drums), line-up according to Discogs. The second version of the piece besides the recording on “Men’s Land”, prepared in 2020 for the Ö1 radio programme.

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In the chronology

In the press

All 25 press items on Michel Portal