EPISODE 25 - Yvonnick Prené

Yvonnick Prené is a professional jazz musician, bandleader, composer, and educator based in the greater New York City area. He is one of the most unique and innovative harmonicists on the scene today.

Prené has recorded 5 acclaimed albums as a leader, including  Listen! (2023) on Sunnyside Records featuring Kevin Hays, Bill Stewart, Dayna Stephens, Jeremy Pelt and Clovis Nicholas.  His latest recording, "Jobim's World" with pianist Geoffrey Keezer, earned rave reviews (2024). 

Prené has performed and/or recorded with New York luminaries such as Peter Bernstein, Rick Margitza, Joe Farnsworth, Steve Cardenas, Pasquale Grasso, Jon Cowherd, Rich Perry, Brian Charette, Jared Gold, Rick Germanson, Jeb Patton, Jerome Sabbagh, among others. 

He has performed around the world, notably at Jersey City Jazz Fest, Exit  Zero Cape May Jazz Fest,  Winter Jazz Fest (NYC), Bern Jazz Festival (Switzerland), Festival Emoi du Jazz (Ivory Coast), Lamentin Jazz Festival (Martinique), SPAH Harmonica Fest (Tulsa), Hyde Park Jazz Festival (Chicago),  and Jazz Sur Seine Festival (Paris). 

Prené performs more than 100 concerts per year, having performed at major jazz clubs in New York City as sideman or leader — including the Blue Note, the Django, Zinc Bar, The Iridium, Dizzy’s Club, Birdland, The Jazz Gallery and Smalls. 

The harmonicist is a revered educator and the founder of the New Harmonica School and My Harmonica Studio. and to date, Yvonnick has taught more than 500 students. Additionally, Prené has written 10 methods about jazz improvisation, jazz etudes and blues harmonica. He also taught at Jazz House Kids, New York Jazz Workshop and Brooklyn Music School.

Additionally, Prené is an ambassador for Hohner; the legendary harmonica brand has chosen Prené to be the face of their brand-new, flagship 12-hole chromatic harmonica called Xpression.

Yvonnick grew up in Massy, a commune in the southern suburbs of Paris. He has earned a Bachelor of Music (2007) and a Masters of Music degree from Sorbonne University (2011) and a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance from the New School of Jazz and Contemporary Music (2012).

He has had the opportunity to study with Lee Konitz, Charli Persip, Charles Tolliver, and Reggie Workman, among other leading lights of the music