Biography
Versatile harmonica player and composer Yvonnick Prené, recognized for his melodic approach across styles, has recorded alongside jazz instrumentalists Vic Juris, Peter Bernstein, and Scott Tixier. A Paris native now based in Manhattan, his first solo album, Jour de Fête, was released in 2013. His fifth album, New York Moments, arrived in 2019 and paired harmonica with Hammond B3 organ and drums, an instrumental combination popularized in select recordings by his key influence, Toots Thielemans.
Born and raised in Paris, Yvonnick Prené began on guitar in childhood before turning his attention to harmonica. After starting with the diatonic instrument, he specialized in chromatic harmonica. At age 17 he began performing in local clubs and earned an undergraduate music degree from the Sorbonne in 2007. While pursuing a master’s degree there, he relocated to New York City, receiving scholarships to attend the City College of New York, Columbia University, and the New School. He completed the Sorbonne master’s shortly before earning a jazz performance bachelor’s from the New School in 2011. In January 2013 he founded the New York Harmonica School, and SteepleChase Records issued Jour de Fête that March.
Prené led the Padam Swing band on his second album, 2014’s Wonderful World, then followed it in 2015 with Merci Toots, a collaboration with guitarist Pasquale Grasso that paid tribute to Thielemans. That same year he published his first of many instructional books, 100 Jazz Patterns for Chromatic Harmonica. His next album, 2016’s Breathe, was recorded with guitarist Peter Bernstein, organist Jared Gold, and drummer Allan Mednard.
After three self-released albums, Prené returned to SteepleChase for 2019’s New York Moments. The set of originals plus compositions by Bill Evans and Miles Davis featured organist Brian Charette and drummer Jordan Young.
Born and raised in Paris, Yvonnick Prené began on guitar in childhood before turning his attention to harmonica. After starting with the diatonic instrument, he specialized in chromatic harmonica. At age 17 he began performing in local clubs and earned an undergraduate music degree from the Sorbonne in 2007. While pursuing a master’s degree there, he relocated to New York City, receiving scholarships to attend the City College of New York, Columbia University, and the New School. He completed the Sorbonne master’s shortly before earning a jazz performance bachelor’s from the New School in 2011. In January 2013 he founded the New York Harmonica School, and SteepleChase Records issued Jour de Fête that March.
Prené led the Padam Swing band on his second album, 2014’s Wonderful World, then followed it in 2015 with Merci Toots, a collaboration with guitarist Pasquale Grasso that paid tribute to Thielemans. That same year he published his first of many instructional books, 100 Jazz Patterns for Chromatic Harmonica. His next album, 2016’s Breathe, was recorded with guitarist Peter Bernstein, organist Jared Gold, and drummer Allan Mednard.
After three self-released albums, Prené returned to SteepleChase for 2019’s New York Moments. The set of originals plus compositions by Bill Evans and Miles Davis featured organist Brian Charette and drummer Jordan Young.
Albums
