A progressive tenor saxophonist and composer, Igor Lumpert’s music represents a unique melt of jazz, Eastern European music and classical music. He has performed with jazz legends including Reggie Workman, John Abercrombie, Chico Hamilton.

Born October 27, 1975, in Novo Mesto, Slovenia, Igor began his professional training at age 19 at the Bruckner Conservatory in Linz, Austria, where he studied with Doug Hammond and Harry Sokal. During this period, he was a member of Munich-based band Sidewinders, winner of the”Best Jazz Group of Germany” award. After completing his studies with honors, Igor was invited by one of the world’s finest bassists, Reggie Workman, to study at the New School University in New York City. He received a scholarship and moved to New York in fall 2000. In New York Igor trained with some of the world’s finest musicians-George Garzone, Reggie Workman, Buster Williams, Chico Hamilton, Billy Harper, and many others. In April 2002, Igor was selected for the New School All-Star Wayne Shorter Ensemble, which performed at the “Beacons In Jazz” award ceremony at the Supper club, where Mr. Shorter was honored. Igor has performed at jazz festivals in Belgrade, Ljubljana, Novi Sad, Cankarjev dom, Cfero; at major jazz clubs in New York including the Jazz Standard, Birdland, Cornelia Street Cafe, Supper Club, 55 Bar; and venues in Vienna, Munich, Linz, Zagreb, Budapest, Beograd, Sarajevo, Novi Sad, Athens, Kreta, Venice.

Igor has released three CDs as a leader so far: Innertextures live (2012) for Cleen Feed Records, Mineral Mind (2011) for ZKPRTVS and Innertextures (2004) for Goga Records. In addition to his work as a performer, he has an active career as an educator, having taught master classes and improvisation lessons throughout Europe and the United States.

Igor’s band Innertextures represents Igor’s passion for the music to journey to new and daring places. “What makes Igor’s music and playing so unique is its complexity. There is a quality to his playing and compositions that has absorbed the rich traditions of jazz music in this country but has also added something new and unidentifiable. His compositions flow with ease and vitality off odd time signatures. There is also darkness and a mystery to his sound that is all his own. No one else sounds like that.”  Jane Ira Bloom, Grammy winner saxophonist, composer