About

Uli Jenneßen is widely regarded as one of the most inspired drummers in the German jazz scene. He was creating an impact with his uncompromising playing in the band LAX with Henrik Wasldorff, John Schröder and Gerold Genßler, influencing many young drummers in liberating themselves emotionally in contemporary jazz. Also in DIE ENTTÄUSCHUNG Uli was part of creating a hip style of playing modern jazz together with Rudi Mahall, Axel Dörner and Jan Roder. In MONK'S CASINO Uli was part of a brand new and unique interpretation of Thelonious Monk's music, playing his complete work of 72 songs in one night, together with Alexander von Schlippenbach, Mahall, Dörner and Roder. This project has been shown to the world at many international jazz festivals. Winner of German Schallplattenpreis in 2005.

Uli was born 1964 in Mönchengladbach. He had his musical education at the Music School Mönchengladbach with drummer Ralf Baumann and at the Music School Düsseldorf with drummer Rolf Drese and piano player and combo teacher Hermann Gehlen.

Since 1986 Uli is living as freelance drummer in Berlin, studying also with Keith Copeland, Jimmy Cobb, Jerry Granelli, Ralph van Duncan, Diego Pineira and Jochen Rückert. From 2000 to 2023 Uli has been official drum teacher at Music School Berlin Mitte. Since 2023 Uli is drum teacher at Westerland Musikschule Berlin Pankow.

After some years of health problems Uli has been developing musically and is back now with his own jazz rock band JENNEßEN with Florian Müller, Thibault Falk and Rodolfo Paccapelo. First CD "In the main" is coming out in 2023, Unit Records. MÜLLER & MAHALL MODEN is a brandnew modern jazz band with Florian Müller-g, Rudi Mahall-bcl and Ben Lehmann-b, playing in the inimitable contemporary Prenzlauer Berg style, sexy and clever.

Uli uses Gretsch drums, Zildjian cymbals and Vater drumsticks.