T R O M B O N I S T

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“I am greatly impressed by his music. This includes trombone performance, improvisation, arranging and composing, as well as leading his wonderful ensemble.”

- Art Baron, trombonist (Duke Ellington)

 

“Creative” - Vincent Herring (Grammy Winner)

 

“An extraordinary artist with a proven track record of excellence”

- Sam Burtis, trombonist (Charles Mingus and Tito Puente)

 

“Dunkel has breathtaking virtuosity, a beautiful melodic sense, and a deep knowledge of the jazz tradition and repertoire”

- Bruce Barth, pianist (Tony Bennett)

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New York based jazz trombonist, composer and producer Amadis Dunkel embodies all the traits of a great, multi-talented, creative spirit. With dazzling virtuosity and a deep melodic sense, Dunkel thrills audiences in New York and at countless festivals and clubs around the world. 

Dunkel is also a renown educator and the founder and owner of the BLUE FROG recording studio in New York City and the BLUE FROG RECORDS audiophile record label specializing in small edition vinyl LPs. 

He was awarded the Jimmy Heath Award in 2013 and a DMA from Stonybrook University in 2023.

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A Swiss citizen, Amadis Nicolas Dunkel was born in Spain and grew up in Switzerland and Italy. In 1994, Dunkel moved to Washington, DC, where he studied jazz trombone with the legendary Calvin Jones. After returning to Switzerland, Dunkel releases his debut album in 2004 and started touring in Europe and the Middle East. In 2005 he founded the Syrian-Swiss Jazz Orchestra and the “Jazz Lives in Syria” festival. In the following years, Dunkel began composing extensively for film and tv, including the soundtrack for the 2009 animation feature “The Jasmine Birds” (Golden Prize in Cairo, Egypt, Silver Prize in Rotterdam, Holland), music for the feature film “Jameela,” a Jordanian production that speaks out against honor killings, and numerous television productions. In 2011 Dunkel relocated to New York to relaunch his performance career in the world’s capital of jazz. He quickly become an in-demand trombonist. In 2013 he receives a Masters Degree from Queens College and is given the prestigious “Jimmy Heath” Award.

 

Over the course of his performing career, Dunkel has had collaborations with Luis Bonilla (Phil Collins), Ray Anderson (6 times in Down Beat's Critics Poll winner), Sam Burtis (Tito Puente), Calvin Jones (original Ray Charles Big Band), Charles Davis (Kenny Dorham Quintet), Vincent Herring (Grammy winner), Antonio Hart (Dizzy Gillespie, Dave Holland), Korean jazz legend Sungjo Jung, Bryan Davis (Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra), Bruce Barth (Tony Benett), Tarek Yamani, Allyn Johnson, Lebanese superstar Ziad Rahbani, Mike Longo (Dizzy Gillespie), Butch Warren (Thelonious Monk Quartet), Jeff Andrews (Wayne Shorter, Mike Stern, Blood Sweat & Tears), Andy McKee (Elvin Jones), Corcoran Holt (Kenny Garrett), Ben Perowski (Michael Brecker, John Scofield), and vocalists Kathryn Farmer, Hiba Tawaji (The Voice, France), and YouTube sensation Robyn Adele Anderson. 

 

Originally inspired by his work in film scoring, Dunkel has extended his creative vision to music production. In the past several years he has established himself in New York’s competitive environment as a sought-after producer for jazz, rock, classical and experimental electronic music and is well known for his signature sound. He is the owner of the BLUE FROG recording studio and th eBLUE FROG RECORDS label in Long Island City, New York. 

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Extensive experiences as producer with Ingrid Jensen, Donny McCaslin, Jon Irabagan, Vincent Herring, Jonathan Blake, Victor Lewis, Alex Blake, Michael Mossman, Bruce Barth, Eri Yamamoto, Luis Bonilla, David Ambrosio and many more..

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Recent Shows

The Blue Note, NYC

Village Vanguard, NYC

Birdland, NYC

Drom, NYC

Montreux Jazz Festival, Switzerland Shanghai Jazz Festival, China

Jarasum Jazz Festival, South-Korea

Cairo Jazz Festival, Egypt

Byblos Festival, Lebanon

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Recent recordings
Amadis Dunkel Quartet: Plasma

Amadis Dunkel Octet/Sextet (Jazz Lives!)
Amadis Dunkel & Luis Bonilla: A Mighty Good Thing

Sungjo Jung Big Band in New York (Cj E&M)

Vincent Herring: Brooklyn Sessions
Roberto Blanco Swinging New York (Connector)

Wael AlKak Neshama
The Red Birds
Afro Peruvian New Trends Orquestra (blue spiral)

Suhee Choi: Superbly Sunny League

Hyuna Park: Her Morning Waltz (Internova Records)

Gary Fogel Lagtet: In the Nick Of Time (Finetime Records)

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