Jim Buennig

A native of Geneseo, Illinois, Jim Buennig [BYOO-nig] is a saxophonist based in Iowa City, Iowa specializing in a range of musical styles with his main focus being jazz. He received a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Studies from Western Illinois University and is currently completing a Master of Arts degree in Jazz Studies at the University of Iowa. Buennig serves as a Teaching Assistant in the Jazz Studies department at the University of Iowa and is the director of the Bix Beiderbecke Youth Jazz Band, an auditioned group of middle and high school students from the Davenport, Iowa area.

Buennig and his groups perform extensively throughout the midwest and have been invited to perform at the Iowa City Jazz Festival and Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival. Jim’s major influences include Kenny Garrett, Jackie McLean, Cannonball Adderley, Joe Henderson, Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter, and Tom Harrell.