Jelle was born in 1980. At the age of seven Jelle van Tongeren started to play classical violin. When he was seventeen he first listened to gypsy jazz and was overwhelmed! He started to play along with recordings of Stephane Grappelli. Later he enrolled in the Conservatory of Amsterdam, working with Rob Madna and Daniel Otten. Other than the swing in the Grappelli/Reinhardt style, Van Tongerens unique way of playing is also influenced by the the modern approach of the early Jean Luc Ponty and other great artists like Fats Navarro, Clifford Brown, Sonny Rollins and Charlie Parker.
Bands:
Jelle van Tongeren Group, Nikitov, Unza Unza Orkstar, Hot club de Frank, Guest appearances on CDs and live shows. and other projectsListen to a live radio show featuring Nikitov when we were only together for a week or so
Discography