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Chris Bauer

Simply put, Chris Bauer performs popular jazz standards on the chromatic harmonica with a repertoire from upbeat bop tunes to cool Latin numbers to soulful ballads. Playing harmonica for 40 years, his performance and recording experiences are diverse including jazz gigs, harmonica trios, church worship bands, production library track s, even recording “Mack the Knife” with a reggae band! He performs and gives harmonica technique seminars at many festivals around the country. His CD “Chris Bauer and Friends How High the Moon” has been featured on numerous jazz radio stations and was heralded as “an outstanding project by an outstanding group of musicians” by Jazz Connection Magazine.

Born and raised on New York’s Long Island, Chris was surrounded by the harmonica since his father had a harmonica trio of his own. He started playing at age nine and began appearing with his father’s trio by thirteen. At sixteen, Chris placed third in a worldwide harmonica competition; and in 1987, placed fourth in a field of 27 at the International Harmonica Federation competition, both times finishing as the highest placed American harmonica player. Since then, Chris has performed at many venues including B.B. Kings (guest artist for Dickey Betts), Kenny’s Castaways in New York, and also the harmonica role in the play "Big River."

Chris is a regular contributing write to The Harmonica Educator magazine on jazz topics and continues to work on recording projects that exemplify jazz harmonica. He also performs both in jazz trio or quartet settings, and as a soloist utilizing custom backgrounds that provide the sound of a jazz ensemble.

Gear

Seydel Harmonicas, Audix Fireball V Harmonica mics


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Album Review

UNT One O'Clock Lab Band: Lab 2021

Read "Lab 2021" reviewed by Jack Bowers


The University of North Texas' flagship ensemble, the One O'Clock Lab Band, has been producing annual recordings for almost half a century. It has also given rise to a veritable assembly line of world-class jazz musicians, more of whom are no doubt coming of age while honing their chops on the One O'Clock's latest album, Lab 2021. Even before the One O'Clock Band was formed in 1959, UNT had nourished such outstanding musicians as guitarists Herb Ellis ...

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Lab 2021

Unt Jazz
2022

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Straight Ahead

Independent Records
2009

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