Bird is the Word - Hendirk Meurkens Plays Charlie Parker

Hendrik Meurkens, a virtuoso on both the chromatic harmonica and the vibraphone, is the most important jazz harmonica player since Toots Thielemans. German-born but now based in New York, Meurkens' recordings and performances garner worldwide acclaim because the transcendent beauty of his music has universal appeal.

A two-mallet player in the tradition of Milt Jackson and Bobby Hutcherson,
Hendrik Meurkens was en-route to being an instantly recognizable vibraphonist when he heard Toots Thielemans. Inspired by the sound of Thielemans' harmonica, he taught himself the difficult-to-master instrument.

Hendrik Meurkens' other life-changing musical experience was his introduction to samba and bossa nova. He was so moved by Brazilian music that after perfecting his unique musical voice at Berklee, as a vibraphone major, he moved to Rio in the early 80s to totally immerse himself in music and culture of Brazil.




A regular Monday night gig at the popular Rio club, Bar 21, soon demonstrated his acceptance by Brazilian musicians. Meurkens' poignant, emotionally affecting harmonica proved to be a sound that Brazilians strongly embraced, and during his Rio days, he met many musicians who later became collaborators in both Europe and New York.

Back in Germany by '83, he became a respected studio musician, recording with European Radio Orchestras and leading his own groups, as well as accompanying visiting legends like Harry 'Sweets' Edison and Buddy Tate.

Within ten years, he had established himself as the "new jazz harmonica voice," and moved to New York, thanks to an exclusive contract with the prestigious label, Concord Records. He has since recorded fifteen albums, and continues to perform as both a guest artist, and with his own groups, both in festivals and clubs globally.

Hendrik Meurkens' profound involvement in both jazz and Brazilian music resulted in a very personal and instantly recognizable version of Samba jazz. This music, a cross-cultural amalgam guaranteed to touch the heart, features his harmonica and vibes along with piano, bass and drums, playing his stirring originals and arrangements. The group has been documented on a number of CDs, most notably the Hendrik Meurkens desert island disc, October Colors.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Hendrik Meurkens
• Harmonica
• Jazz
• Jimmy Cobb
• Bird
• is
• the
• Word
• Charlie Parker
• bebop

[canthill3]

Hes no Peter Griffin ,MA-MA-MA OOMA-MA-MOW

[JazzVideoGuy]

@canthill3 Peter Griffin?

[saxfan9]

“Music is your own experience, your own thoughts, your wisdom. If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn. They teach you there's a boundary line to music. But, man, there's no boundary line to art.”

Charlie Parker

...and that guy lives it...

[JazzVideoGuy]

@saxfan9 Meurkens, yes. He's a real artist.

[turbolawnmower]

awesome post!

but isn't this tune called 'yardbird suite'?

[JazzVideoGuy]

ah ha!

[urbanV8]

That guy doesn't know that the bird is the word

[sevenoverthree]

But EVERYBODY knows that the bird is the word!

MA-MA-MA OOMA-MA-MOW! MA-MA OOMA MA-MOW!

[gwilym94]

Screw the harmonica player. That's Jimmy Cobb!

[landztranz]

Super clip!!! Great playing by all! Thank you, JazzVideoGuy!

[willdogg1954]

Great post my friend...thoroughly enjoyed it...

[borisjakovljevic]

I thought that he knew that the birds is the word... :(

[baffifinti78]

I didn't thought it was possible

[chinxstarTv]

what is this for a shitt :DDD