The Goettingen native musician GunterHampel 65 years old
When you meet Gunter Hampel, first thing you notice are his inquisitive eyes, his open minded manners, and his youthful charisma.
The jazzmusicians effect is timeless young.And when he improvises on the vibraphone, or playing his bassclarinet or flute , only one thing counts : the moment, the now.
The world -wide renowned musician from Goettingen celebrates his 65th birthday on August 31 st in New York City.
Jazz as life- purpose
Hampel is born August 31 st, 1937 as the son of a Goettingen roofmaker family. His first encounter with Jazz happened being 8 years old. With the end of World War II black GIs and the afro-american Jazz moved into town. Jazz would become Hampel’s purpose in life.He formed his first band when he was 16. In the following years he played through all thejazz-styles : Oldtime and Swing, Bebop, Cool-Jazz, finally Hardbop and ModernJazz.With 21 he became professional Jazzmusician and plays month-long engagements throughout Germany and Europe.
The Multi-Instrumentalist founded 1964 his GUNTER HAMPEL QUINTET and right with his first LP “Heartplants” he started to write Jazzhistory as a first representation of “European Jazz”
He tours worldwide and started (1969) to live also in New York City where he formed the GALAXIE DREAM BAND.
In Europe he works with composers like HansWerner Henze and gets chosen in the US-Jazzmagazine “down beat” year by year as one of the world-best Jazz-Vibraphonists. In workshops he leads children to learn about Improvisations and in recent years combines forces with young musicians in his Jazz-hip-hop-band “NEXT GENERATION”
Gunter Hampel’s compositions and his improvisations are dance-like, light, floating and mostly virtually hypnotizing.They are modern and free, but also breezing the spirit and the feeling of earlier Jazz-epochs.
Respect of theJazz-tradition
Hampel was never a destroyer, but has always, in full of respect of the Jazz tradition, renewed the jazzcontinuum and further developed.
His music sounds European but is at the same time colored afro-american by way of living with his long-time companion and great Jazz singer Jeanne Lee and other black Jazz artists.
In Gunter Hampel continues to live the great heritage of Jazzlegends like Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker,John Coltrane or Sun Ra. His devoted playing is deeply spiritual and full of positive power and energy. And each of his improvisations is a passionate declaration of love towards the Jazz.
Udo Hinz Goettinger Tageblatt, August 28, 2oo2
translated from German by Joe Access
