NEWS

In January, Zoho Music released Hendrik's new CD, "Sambatropolis." The reviews have been overwhelming positive:

"This vibrant collection, Montclairian Hendrik Meurkens again engrossingly blends a vital jazz core – rooted in the melodic grace of Charlie Parker – with an affinity and affection for beats Brazilian. A one-time Rio resident who employs a cast of top Brazilian and American jazz artists, chromatic harmonica and vibes player Meurkens offers profound authenticity – and musicality – throughout. The pulsating title tune places his harmonica with tenor saxophonists Rodrigo Ursaia and Jed Levy – a unique, and winning, frontline. All solo with pizzazz. Levy also scores with moving thoughts on a bossa look at “You Don’t Know What Love Is.” Here, Meurkens exhibits his vibes mastery over a subtle pulse from drummer Adriano Santos, pianist Ian MacDonald, and bassist Gustavo Amarante. “The Bee” is a vigorous Meurkens’ choro, with a percussive theme delivered on harmonica alongside either Ursaia or pianist Helio Alves. Driving solos over deftly-woven background textures follow. “Fotografia” is a favorite Jobim bossa given gentle heat from drummer Duduka Da Fonseca. Meurkens’ “Ocean Lights” is fairly straight-forward ballad, showcasing his tender harmonica. His “Hot and Stuffy” is a grooving bossa blues."
Zan Stewart Newark Star Ledger


"Leave it to the Germans to get manufacturing done right. Hendrik Meurkens, who has mastered both harmonica and vibraphone, has put together yet another seamless and enticing collection of Brazilian –flavored jazz. It’s hard to figure which instrument fits him best. On Jobim’s “Voce Vai Ver” and “his own “A Summer In San Francisco”, his vibes dance with a tingling beauty. His harmonica, however, is yearning and warm, as he displays on his own title tune and Jobim’s under recorded “Fotografia”. Jed Levy and Rodrigo Ursaia contribute breathy sax support throughout the session, and the rotating rhythm section is lithe and sultry. Well crafted and efficient like a Porsche, this disc grooves along the Autostrada."
George Harris, Jazz Weekly

The album debuted on the Jazz Chart at #2. And it is #1 in the World Music Chart.

On June 6, 2007 Hendrik Meurkens presented a Masterclass at Berklee College of Music in Boston as a preview of his Jazz Harmonica teaching concept and his Brazilian Jazz Ensembles: Jazz Harmonica in Straight-Ahead and Brazilian Jazz.

Hendrik toured Siberia and Germany in 2007, and played at the JVC Fesitval in Miami, and Canada in late June and early July.

His also premiered his new Organ Quartet at Cecil's Jazz Club in West Orange, New Jersey. This group features classic organ jazz in a stellar line-up. High Note recording artists Bob DeVos and Mike LeDonne are first-call choices for this format. A special treat is presence of drummer Jimmy 'Junebug' Jackson, who toured and recorded with the legendary Jimmy Smith for 21 years.

WBGO-FM did a live broadcast of the Hendrik Meurkens Samba Jazz Quintet, live from J&R in New York. This set will be rebroadcast on NPR's Jazzset with Dee Dee Bridgewater.

Hendrik Meurkens’ first ZOHO recording, "New York Samba Jazz Quintet," features Helio Alves on piano, Gustavo Amarante on bass, Adriano Santos on drums and Jed Levy on saxophones. In addition to his unique harmonica, the CD also includes several tracks of Hendrik'sremarkable vibraphone.

The CD reached #2 on the Jazz Radio Chart. It stayed on for 17 strong weeks.

Hendrik recently recorded his follow-up CD for ZOHO MUSIC at Michael Brorby's Acoustic Recording in New York. It features his working group of Helio Alves, Gustavo Amarante and Adriano Santos plus guests Rodrigo Ursaia, Jed Levy, Duduka Da Fonseca, Pedro Ramos, Ian MacDonald and Mauricio Zottarelli. Look for an release in early 2008.

Reviews for the CD have been quite positive.

JazzTimes: "On jazz harmonica there’s Toots Thielemans, but then who? Hendrik Meurkens, of course, and for those who don’t know him, when you hear his extended solo on Djavan’s “Flor de Lis” on this CD, you will be hooked. Displaying flawless technique, high creativity and warm expressiveness, Meurkens is a master of the instrument. As if that isn’t enough, his playing here on vibes (his first instrument before hearing Thielemans at age 19) is nearly as good, agile and rich in tone."

"Recorded live at Cecil’s Jazz Club near his New Jersey home, Meurkens’ quintet explores various sambas, choros and bossa novas. After leaving Germany, Meurkens immersed himself in Brazilian music during a visit there in the early ’80s, and has recorded this music frequently and authentically ever since, but never better than here."

"His outstanding quintet features Jed Levy on tenor and flute, pianist Helio Alves, bassist Gustavo Amarante and drummer Adriano Santos—the latter three all originally from Brazil. Levy’s full-bodied, captivating tenor work and Alves’ propulsive, animated piano are key elements to these exciting performances."

"The repertoire includes two memorable João Donato compositions, “Vamos Nessa” and “A Rã,” as well as Jobim’s “Triste” and “I Can’t Get Started” (as a bossa nova). Meurkens’ two previously recorded and appealing choros, “Mimosa” and “Menina na Janela,” receive new treatments. One of Meurkens’ “main tunes,” often requested, is the beautiful “Prague in March,” which features Meurkens’ harmonica and Levy’s tenor at their collaborative best. The moving “Bolero Para Paquito” is Meurkens’ original written for Paquito D’Rivera and recorded before by both artists. This is Brazilian jazz at its finest." Scott Albin.

 

APPEARANCES

  • 03/15, Sat - South Florida Jazz, Ft. Lauderdale
    8:00 PM
    Rose & Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center
    3100 Ray Ferrero, Jr Blvd
    Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314
    w/ Hendrik Meurkens Samba Jazz Quartet
    Hendrik Meurkens-harmonica, vibes; Helio Alves-piano; Gustavo Amarante-bass; Adriano Santos-drums
  • 03/18, Tue - Kiev, Ukraine
    Conservatory Concert Hall
    Gorodetskogo 1/3-11, Kiev
    Tel. +38 044 229 97 92
    w/ Hendrik Meurkens Samba Jazz Quartet
    Hendrik Meurkens-harmonica; Misha Tsiganov-piano; Gustavo Amarante-bass; Adriano Santos-drums
  • 03/20, Thu - Odessa, Ukraine
    Salsa Club “Bernadazzi”
    15, Bunina, Odessa
    w/ Hendrik Meurkens Samba Jazz Quartet
  • 03/21, Fri - Odessa, Ukraine
    Odessa Russia Dramatic Theatre,
    48, Grecheskaja, Odessa
    w/ Hendrik Meurkens Samba Jazz Quartet
  • 03/22, Sat - Kiev, Ukraine
    Jednist Jazz Festival
    Operetta Theatre
    53/3, Chervonoarmijska, Kiev
    w/ Hendrik Meurkens Samba Jazz Quartet
  • 03/23, Sun - Kharkov, Ukraine
    ZAJazz Festival
    Radmir ExpoHall
    271, Academic Pavlov, Kharkiv, 61054
    w/ Hendrik Meurkens Samba Jazz Quartet
  • 03/25, Tue - Union Of Composers Jazz Club, Moscow, Russia
    Address: 8/10 build 2, Bryusov lane, Moscow
    Phone/fax: +7 495 629-65-63
    w/ Hendrik Meurkens Samba Jazz Quartet
  • 03/26, Wed - Union Of Composers Jazz Club, Moscow, Russia
    Address: 8/10 build 2, Bryusov lane, Moscow
    Phone/fax: +7 495 629-65-63
    w/ Hendrik Meurkens Samba Jazz Quartet
  • 04/05, Sat - Trumpets
    6 Depot Square
    Montclair, New Jersey 07042
    973-744-2600
    w/ Hendrik Meurkens Samba Jazz Quartet
    Hendrik Meurkens-harmonica, vibes; Misha Tsiganov-piano; Gustavo Amarante-bass; Adriano Santos-drums
  • 04/11, Fri - Bar Next Door
    129 MacDougal St
    New York, NY
    ph. 212.529.5945
    w/ Hendrik Meurkens Brazilian Organ Trio
    Hendrik Meurkens-harmonica; Matthias Bublath-organ; Mauricio Zottarelli-drums
  • 04/27, Sun - Montclair State University/Jazz at MSU
    Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ
  • 05/10, Sat - Bar Next Door
    129 MacDougal St
    New York, NY
    ph. 212.529.5945
    w/ Hendrik Meurkens Brazilian Organ Trio
    Hendrik Meurkens-harmonica; Matthias Bublath-organ; Mauricio Zottarelli-drums
  • 05/20, Tue - BB King's, New York
    237 West 42 St, (212) 997-4144
    w/ Hendrik Meurkens Samba Jazz Quartet
    Hendrik Meurkens-harmonica; Misha Tsiganov-piano; Gustavo Amarante-bass; Adriano Santos-drums
  • 05/31, Sat - Central Pennsylvania Jazz Festival
    Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
    w/ Hendrik Meurkens Samba Jazz Quartet
    Hendrik Meurkens-harmonica, vibes; Misha Tsiganov-piano; Gustavo Amarante-bass; Adriano Santos-drums
  • 06/27, Fri - Lana's Fine Dining
    1300 Raritan Rd, Clark NJ 07066, 732-669-9024
    w/ Hendrik Meurkens Samba Jazz Quartet
    Hendrik Meurkens-harmonica, vibes; Misha Tsiganov-piano; Gustavo Amarante-bass; Adriano Santos-drums
  • 07/12, Sat - Jazz at Mills Pond
    Mills Pond, Smithtown, Long Island, 6PM, (631) 862-6575
    w/ Hendrik Meurkens Samba Jazz Quartet
    Hendrik Meurkens-harmonica, vibes; Misha Tsiganov-piano; Gustavo Amarante-bass; Adriano Santos-drums
  • 07/29, Tue - BB King's, New York
    237 West 42 St, (212) 997-4144
    w/ Hendrik Meurkens Quartet
    Hendrik Meurkens-harmonica; Misha Tsiganov-piano; Gustavo Amarante-bass; Mauricio Zottarelli-drums
  • 08/03, Sun - Scranton Jazz Festival
    Scranton, Pennsylvania, 6PM
    w/ Hendrik Meurkens Samba Jazz Quartet
    Hendrik Meurkens-harmonica, vibes; Misha Tsiganov-piano; Gustavo Amarante-bass; Adriano Santos-drums
  • 08/29, Fri - Vail Jazz Festival
    Vail Cascade Resort & Spa, Vail, Colorado
    w/ Hendrik Meurkens Samba Jazz Quintet
    Hendrik Meurkens-harmonica, vibes; Jed Levy, tenor & flute; Helio Alves-piano; Gustavo Amarante-bass; Adriano Santos-drums
  • 08/30, Sat - Vail Jazz Festival
    Vail Cascade Resort & Spa, Vail, Colorado
    w/ Hendrik Meurkens Samba Jazz Quintet
  • 08/31, Sun - Vail Jazz Festival
    Vail Cascade Resort & Spa, Vail, Colorado
    w/ Hendrik Meurkens Samba Jazz Quintet
  • 09/01, Mon - Vail Jazz Festival
    Vail Cascade Resort & Spa, Vail, Colorado
    w/ Hendrik Meurkens Samba Jazz Quintet
  • 09/14, Sun - Vinitza Jazz Festival
    Vinitza, Ukraine
    w/ Tizian Jost, piano
  • 09/16, Tue - German Embassy
    Kiev, Ukraine
    w/ Tizian Jost, piano
  • 10/10, Fri - Cecil's Jazz Club
    364 Valley Road, West Orange, NJ, (973) 736-4800
    Hendrik Meurkens Organ Quartet feat. Mike LeDonne, Organ; Bob DeVos, guitar
  • 10/11, Sat - Cecil's Jazz Club
    364 Valley Road, West Orange, NJ, (973) 736-4800
    Hendrik Meurkens Organ Quartet feat. Mike LeDonne, Organ; Bob DeVos, guitar
  • 10/16, Thu - The Rex
    194 Queen St. West, Toronto, Canada
    w/ Toronto Samba Jazz Connection feat. Jeremy Price, Brownman, Attila Fias, Rick Brisco, Paco Luviano
  • 10/17, Fri - Lula Lounge
    1585 Dundas St. W., Toronto, Canada 416 588 0307
    w/ Toronto Samba Jazz Connection feat. Jeremy Price, Brownman, Attila Fias, Rick Brisco, Paco Luviano
  • 10/22, Wed - Iridium Jazz Club
    1650 Broadway, New York, (212) 582-2121
    w/ Hendrik Meurkens Samba Jazz Quartet
    Hendrik Meurkens/ Misha Tsiganov/ Gustavo Amarante-bass/ Adriano Santos



    Tour of Germany/ Switzerland

    w/ Hendrik Meurkens Samba Jazz Quartet
    Hendrik Meurkens-harmonica, vibes; Misha Tsiganov-piano; Gustavo Amarante-bass; Adriano Santos-drums, perc
  • 11/03, Mon - Augsburg, Germany

  • 11/04, Tue - Kaufbeuren, Germany

  • 11/05, Wed - Sonthofen, Germany

  • 11/06, Thu - Aidlingen, Germany

  • 11/07, Fri - Wolfsburg, Germany

  • 11/08, Sat - Wendelstein, Germany

  • 11/10, Mon - Saarbrücken, Germany

  • 11/12, Wed - Birdland
    Gärtnerstr. 122, Hamburg, Germany
    +49/40/405277
  • 11/14, Fri - Bird's Eye
    Kohlenberg 20, Basel, Switzerland
    Tel. +41 (0)61 263 33 41
  • 11/15, Sat - Bird's Eye
    Kohlenberg 20, Basel, Switzerland
    Tel. +41 (0)61 263 33 41
    ---------------------------------------------------


  • 12/05, Fri - Flushing Town Hall
    New York
    w/ Hendrik Meurkens Samba Jazz Quartet
    Hendrik Meurkens-harmonica, vibes; Misha Tsiganov-piano; Gustavo Amarante-bass; Adriano Santos-drums


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