Jens Bunge

„We must welcome Jens Bunge to the growing ranks of chromatic harmonica players in jazz.(…) Jens has a round tone and technique, supported by musicianship. Good luck, the road is not easy but you’ve got the conviction and the equipment.“

(Jean “Toots” Thielemans)

Jens Bunge was born in 1963. At the age of 18, he began to play the chromatic harmonica. Influenced by the recordings of Belgium harmonica player Jean Toots Thielemans, he soon found his passion for jazz.

In the mid 1980’s he began to perform with local big bands and jazz groups, receiving more and more acknowledgement for his melodic improvisation style.

In the following years, Jens Bunge made guest performances with the German Jazz Youth Orchestra “BuJazzO” (conducted by Peter Herbolzheimer) and jazz musicians such as Art Farmer, Barbara Dennerlein, Emil Mangelsdorff, Judy Roberts and Patricia Barber. Concert tours brought him to Spain, Italy, Poland, USA, Brazil, China and New Zealand.

As a “Hohner Master of the Harmonica” he has been performing and conducting jazz workshops at harmonica festivals in Germany, Estonia, South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Merate Musica in Italy and the SPAH Convention in St. Louis/USA.

Alternating with Jamey Aebersold, he was a long time regular writer for the jazz column of the magazine „The Harmonica Educator“.

In Germany Jens Bunge performs with his long time partner Uli Wagner (guitar) and the trio of Andreas Hertel (piano) and regularly tours in Asia 2 – 3 times a year, where he often plays with Jeremy Monteiro, Rick Smith and other local musicians.

Gear

Hohner Super 64 Performance Chromatic Harmonica

BlowsMeAway Customized Shure SM58 Microphone

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