Thomas Brendgens-Mönkemeyer
Press Information

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Please click here for a hi-res Tiff file of this picture...

Please click here for a hi-res Tiff file of this picture...

Press Release

"...Thomas ranks among the most ideosyncratic jazzguitarists in Germany", wrote a leading German music magazine already, when he published his debut album 'Mind & Body Ensemble' many years ago. After studying the guitar with it’s many beautiful possibilities from John Dowland to Jim Hall to Jimi Hendrix, since then he has established a reputation as a complete musician with skills in many fields of jazz, classical music and blues.

So besides playing concerts he teaches at the University for Music and Drama in Hannover.

His almost pianistic technique and creative depth enable him to express dreamy or agressive moods without 'Kitsch'. He plays solo concerts or sometimes in duo settings, as with bluesmaster Woody Mann during the international Frankfurt Music Fair or folkguitar wizard Jaques Stotzem on a guitar festival.

Playing all over in Germany, over the years he has played in Belgium, Argentina too and on Festivals in several countries like France, Poland, Switzerland. Thomas has stayed in touch and played with musicians like Larry Coryell, Mark Egan, Paul Wertigo, Peter Leitch, Ralph Towner, Woody Mann, Jaques Stotzem, Derek Bailey, Alexander v. Schlippenbach, Trefor Owen and John Etheridge.

After his solo CD 'Beauty' (on Jardis Records) his most recent CD- productions include a duo CD with the longtime bassplayer of Chet Baker from Belgium: Jean-Louis Rassinfosse, a duo CD with the Argentinian jazz guitar master Daniel Corzo, another duo CD Breathing with the extrordinary guitarist from USA, John Stowell, and now, very new, a second solo CD, entitled Lightness!

When Larry Coryell listened to "Beauty", he wrote:

“Dear Thomas, you get a great 'sound' and your playing is very melodic. I like that. Keep up the good work.” Larry C.