Bio: 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 . As a featured artist, he has recorded with Charlie Byrd, Jimmy Cobb, Ivan Lins, Monty Alexander, Claudio Roditi ,Manfredo Fest and Mundell Lowe, as well as backing such leading artists as Astrid Gilberto and Olivia Newton John and touring with the Ray Brown Trio, Paquito D'Rivera, Oscar Castro Neves, Herb Ellis, Herbie Mann, Charlie Byrd, and James Moody among many others. Also a successful composer (his compositions have been recorded by other artists and featured in the Hollywood movie, "Dolores Claiborne,") Hendrik Meurkens remains equally at home playing jazz or Brazilian music. "My mission is simple," he explains. "I want to create music of great beauty.”
JR247: What were your influences musically? Hendrik Meurkens: All the great straight ahead players. Mostly saxophonists and pianists.Dexter, Bird, Hank Mobley, Sonny Clark, Wynton Kelly. Then of course Lionel Hampton and Bags for the vibes and Toots as an inspiration for the harmonica. JR247: Can you explain your creative process to writing and improvisation? HM: Composing I do at the piano. I have an idea and then it takes a looooooooooong time until it becomes a finished tune. It has to feel complete and sound to make it a composition. I am spoiled growing up with Bach and Mozart, so I want a tune to feel like a worthy composition and not just a set of changes to blow over. Improvisation I think less about. I know what sounds good on a set of changes and then I improvise. Daaaaaaaaaa! JR247: Why Harmonica?
HM: I was taken by the melancholic quality of the instrument. It just touched me. Of course Toots is guilty here. I loved his sound and his ballad playing. As far as lines I never got into his playing too much. For that I had the classic beboppers. But his sound did it for me. JR247: What are the things in music that you aspire to? Move you? Inspire you? HM: Music is emotion and that's that. I have no goals, aims, no mission, nobody to convert. I just love to hear music and to play music. Addiction, passion. Something like that. I can't give it up, I am moved by it, it is the one and only thing that interests me. That and cream cheese bagels. JR247: What are some of your current and future goals? What are some things you still really want to attain to in your career? HM: Just getting closer to what I consider great music. The bar is set high bythe Jobims, Bachs, Birds, Getz' of this world. As an artist your brain is always ahead of your fingers, meaning that you are never satisfied with what you playbecause you know better. So maybe just get a little closer? But maybe not, because then there would be something wrong with your brain. JR247: Can you talk about Amazon River. The process, the motivation, selections, musicians, etc? HM: We were on the road in Europe with the rhythm section and the concept of the album developed while we got into the repertoire. Then Oscar Castro-Neves joined us as a guest for some concerts and he became the co-producer and arranger. The album is a collection of songs from various different Brazilian music styles, like Bossa Nova, Samba Jazz and Choro. We added guest on the tunes to bring out the qualities of the different styles. It really is as much a composer's album asit is a player's album. JR247: Where are you playing? Where can people but your disc?
HM: All the info about my appearances are on my website. Also my CDs can be bought through there. Either from us our we link to the respective record companies. I have 16 CDs out and they are on different labels. Through my website one can get to all of them, except the very first one, which is currently out of print. For more information, please visit: HendrikMeurkens.com | 
