JAZZMIA Nights - Hendrik Meurkens

Doors: 7:00pm

Show: 7:30pm

Jam Session: 8:30pm

General Admission is $30. Free entry for students and musicians!

Personnel

Hendrik Meurkens, harmonica

Mike Eckroth, piano

Jamie Ousley, bass

Lucas Apostoleris, drums

About the Artist

Jazz harmonica virtuoso, vibraphonist and composer Hendrik  Meurkens began his career in Germany playing vibes. At 19, he  heard Toots Thielemans play harmonica, which totally changed his  musical life. His career has taken him from Brazil to Germany,  then throughout the European continent where he became a pivotal  force on the studio and jazz scene, performing, composing,  recording, and touring extensively with his own ensembles as well  as with visiting legends Harry Sweets Edison and Buddy Tate. In  1989, he returned to Brazil to record his first album as a leader,  "Samba Importado". In 1992, a trip to California led to his signing  with the Concord label, and the resulting six recordings established  him as the first major new voice on the harmonica since Toots  Thielemans and as a vibes player in the mainstream tradition. He  moved to New York in 1992 where he has lived ever since.

His 30 CDs have received rave reviews and strong airplay, and established  his immediately recognizable style of Brazilian Jazz. In 2014 he  won the Brazilian International Press Award. Critics and the jazz  listening public alike have recognized Meurkens' incredible talent,  listing him repeatedly in the Downbeat and Jazziz Polls.

Meurkens  has recorded and performed with Ray Brown, Paquito D'Rivera,  Oscar Castro-Neves, Herb Ellis, Herbie Mann, James Moody,  Charlie Byrd, Jimmy Cobb, Ivan Lins, Monty Alexander,  Manfredo Fest, Herb Ellis, Dori Caymmi, Toninho Horta, Harry  'Sweets' Edison, Buddy Tate, Joyce, Astrud Gilberto, Roberto  Menescal, Antonio Adolfo, Emilio Santiago, and many others.