mathias kunzli - drummer, percussionist

Mathias Kunzli : drums & percussion

New York based musician Mathias Kunzli was born in Switzerland in 1975 where he lived until 1995.

At age thirteen he started to play the drumset and soon he got involved with several Rock/Pop/Folk groups and attended the "Dante Agostini Drum School Paris" in Olten, Switzerland, where he won numerous diplomas and awards for outstanding performances.

For five consecutive years Mathias was the drummer for the Swiss Youth Jazz Orchestra, a national group that toured Switzerland and Italy.

In 1995, he won two scholarships from Berklee College of Music in Boston and moved overseas. He graduated in December 1998 and has made the United States, New YorkCity, his residence ever since.

Some of Mathias' teachers include:
Jamey Haddad, Joe Hunt, Ian Froman, Giovanni Hidalgo, Adam Nussbaum, Danny Gottlieb, Tommy Campbell, Hal Crook, Greg Hopkins, Marco Kaeppeli, Fritz Renold.

His desire and ability to adapt to a wide range of musical situations have enabled Mathias to tour extensively with numerous projects.

As a drummer and percussionist he has had the chance to perform or record with:
Moby, Lauryn Hill, Yo-Yo Ma Silk Road Project, Airto Moreira, Flora Purim, Vieux Farka Toure, Oscar Castro-Neves, Gary Brown, Randy Brecker, Bob Berg, Marc Ribot, John Zorn’s Electric Masada, Alessandra Belloni, Bobby Watson, Jerry Bergonzi, Hal Crook, George Garzone, Jamey Haddad, Mark Soskin, Herb Pomeroy, Bill Pierce, Cecil Bridgewater,John Lockwood, Lenny Hochmann, Yanka Roupkina, Theodosii Spassov, Bakithi Kumalo, Tony Cedras, Oscar Stagnaro, Savina Yannatou, Dave Samuels,The Paul Winter Consort, Mike Richmond, Donny McCaslin, Eugene Friesen, Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, Matt Dariau, Frank London, Gary Burton, Makoto Ozone, Gina Gershon.

Recordings (incomplete):

Rashanim (Tzadik):

"Rashanim"
John Zorn, Masada Anniversary Edition
Vol. 2: "Voices of the Wilderness"
Vol. 3: "The Unknown Masada"
Great Jewish Music: Jacob do Bandolim
John Zorn, “Masada Rock" Rashanim plays Masada
"Shalosh"

Giana Viscardi Group:
"Tinge"
"Live at Bird's Eye Jazz Club Vol. 5, Singers"
“4321”

Christina Courtin's Running Kicks, EP (self released)

Lage Lund Quintet "Summa Cum Jazz", BMG
Todd McDonalds "Changes"
YAYA "YAYA", Black Mountain Productions
NFX"NFX"
Fredi Meli Quartet "Current"
Katharina Rosenberger "Lyrical Drama in one Act: Iphigenia in Aulius"
Fat Dragon "Dream After a Large Lunch", Planet Pomegranate Rec.
John Urrutia "Bilboa Blues", Jubal Media Productions
Dagbe Percussion Ensemble "Shapes and Sounds"
Theodosii Spassov Quartet "Theodosii Spassov Quartet"
Ziv Damary Group, Zivology Music
Sula da Silva Group "Cibernetico", CG Music Productions
Eric Wainaina "Sawa Sawa", Nuru Records
Alma Vucinic "Live at National Theater of Montenegro"
Michael Ruzitschka "Autum Tales", Ruzitschka Music
Michal Cohen "Henna"
Phil Stoeckli Quintet "The Third Eye", Freshsound Records
Six Sides "Perhaps"
Trio Mahala "Trio Mahala", JORO Music
Patricia y Ana Lucia Vlieg "Tus Promesas", Sono Voces Rec./Wicked Good Music
Christiane Jade "I'm Alive"
Owen Plant "This is the One"
.WAV ".WAV"
Jocelyn Medina "Womenless"
Sula da Silva Group "Live at Ryle's Jazz Club"
Sophie Delila “All Yours”, Freak’n See Music
Animal Channal “Animal Channal”
Frank Heinkel “What remains when everything goes”
Eliane "Eliane"
Mecca Bodega, “Skin”, Harmonized Records
“A String Quartet Tribute to Massive Attack”, Vitamin Records
“A String Quartet Tribute to Mars Volta”, Vitamin Records
Clara Lofaro “Black and Blue Pearls”, Cometrue Records
Ian Jeffreys “Gemini”
Kent Gustavson "Troublin' Mind", One Soul Records (Release TBA)
DVD: Caron Eule Dance “Clean Springing 3 at the Cunningham Studio NYC”
Nadja Salerno-Sonnnenberg "Merry, a Holiday Journey", NSS Music
Elin "Lazy Afternoon", Blue Toucan Music
Pharaoh's Daughter "Haran", oy!hoo Records
Louise Rogers "Come ready and see me"
Lina Orfanos "Enchanted Night"
Jon Diaz "Circling from above"
Where's My Angel?
Artists for Darfur "Voices of Hope", Pharaoh's Daughter
Crystal Top Music Compilation, Chistina Courtin's Running Kicks
Glatt und Verkehrt Festival 2006 Compilation, Rashanim feat. Frank London
Julio Nava "No Tengas Mas Prisa"

Film Scores (very incomplete):

2005
“Unholy” Dir. Daryl Goldberg
“Air check”, Dir. Shawn Landis

2004
“Lechon” Dir. Carlos Gutierrez
“Bad Behavior” Dir. Marta Masferrer
“Prosciutto” Dir. Alessio Gioretti

2003
“Sleight of Hand” Dir. Carlos Gutierrez
Winner Best Score 2004 NYU First Run Festival