Composer/Bassist Iris Ornig

Tuesday, July 6, 2010:  Composer/Bassist Iris Ornig

Iris Ornig is a gifted instrumentalist, a talented composer and a charismatic performer.  Her compositions are swinging, stormy, melodic, sensitive, playful, angular and straight-ahead with plenty of twists and surprises.  Iris is originally from Germany.  She studied jazz and popular music in St. Gallen, Switzerland and went from there to the well-known Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London to establish her musical skills.  In 2003 she moved to New York City where she is working as an arranger, composer and bandleader.  She has performed at jazz clubs and festivals all over the United States, Europe and East Africa.  She can be heard regularly at NYC’s top jazz clubs such as 55 Bar, Zinc Bar, Garage and Kitano.  Since arriving in New York, Iris has had the pleasure to work with just jazz notables as Wycliffe Gordon, Gretchen Parlato, Danny Grissett, Frank Kimbrough, Gene Jackson, Tony Jefferson, Rebecca Martin, Sachal Vasandani, Lauren Kinhan, Mike Rodriguez, Joel Frahm, Ambrose Akinmusire, Jon Irabagon, Cecilia Colemen, Allison Miller, Marion Felder, Roberta Picket, and Stacey Dillard.

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Her grasp of harmony, sound and rhythm place her in a select group of musicians who are ready to tackle whatever comes their way.  I am always happy to hear a young bassist who has studied the tradition but has moved on to make their own form of contemporary music.  Iris is such a musician – Larry Grenadier

I Love the bass and female bass players even more and she’s got chops! – Elizabeth Farriss, Program Director/KEWU – Spokane, Washington

Ornig’s original pieces highlight peaceful settings and convey a smooth landscape. – Jim Santella/All About Jazz