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Chris Bauer

About Me

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.