CV’s
Irene Becker (piano, keyboards), born 1951 in Aalborg, Denmark.
Irene has a Masters Degree from the University of Copenhagen and has studied at the Creative Music Studio in Woodstock, New York. She has been a member of New Jungle Orchestra since 1981. In recent years she has often collaborated with dancers and poets. Trips and tours all over the world have provided the opportunity for field studies, experimentation and inspiration from ancient musical cultures. She has composed for big bands, chamber ensembles and choirs, collaborated with Siberian female vocalist Sainkho Namtchylak, and studied composition with Bob Brookmeyer at the Rhythmic Music Conservatory in Copenhagen.
Charlotte Halberg (flute), born 1953 in Aarhus, Denmark.
Charlotte grew up in London and New York, where she received basic training on piano, violin and recorder. After completing high school in Copenhagen, she graduated from teacher’s college, which lead to many years of intensive work at music schools. She has been a professional musician since 1987, primarily on the flute and pan flute. She is a touring member of classical, jazz and folk ensembles, and a dedicated performer of children’s concerts in Denmark, Norway and Greenland.
Yu Jun (guzheng), born 1971 in Shanghai, China.
There is a long tradition of playing the guzheng – the Chinese zither – in YJ’s family. Her ancestors boast many musicians of supreme virtuosity. Thus, it was a famous aunt who first introduced her to the ancient instrument. In 1984 she was awarded first prize at the Shanghai Spring Festival, and the following year she was admitted to the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, where she graduated from the department of Chinese Traditional Music. She has worked all over the world with many groups and within diverse styles, including the Danish ensemble Pierre Dørge & New Jungle Orchestra and numerous constellations in Berlin, where she now resides.
Specialguest on China Tour august 2010
BENT CLAUSEN (Percussionist and multi-instrumentalist) born 1952 in Copenhagen, Denmark
Bent first appeared as a young drummer in the melting pot of rock and jazz and experimental music in Copenhagen in the late sixties. Soon he began performing on the vibraphone, and later he also started playing the piano, marimba, guitar and banjo, not to mention many kinds of percussion.
Bent has been touring and performing in most parts of the world, mostly on Jazz-Festivals and with theatre productions.
During the last 10 years he has worked internationally with Pierre Dørge, Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, and David Albarn.