Chris Conz | Boogie Woogie Piano

Chris Conz was born on October 22, 1985 in Uster, Zurich. From the time he was 11 he has dedicated himself to the special jazz style of boogie woogie, which he discovered through Hamp Ruosch. Chris took lessons from Hamp, from whom he learned his first runs and patterns. In the process, he became influenced early on by musicians like Albert Ammons, Pete Johnson, Meade “Lux” Lewis, Axel Zwingenberger, and Vince Weber.

At age 16 he met Silvan Zingg, organizer of the International Boogie Festival, and soon Chris was making appearances as a surprise guest at Silvan’s festivals. After that he was invited to international festivals in different countries, sharing the stage with boogie woogie greats like Axel Zwingenberger, Vince Weber, Frank Muschalle, Bob Seeley.

Today Chris is not only a solo pianist, but on the road with his duo and trio as well. Already, he has been able to play for private and public concerts in the USA, Spain, France, Germany, England, Austria, Italy, and Switzerland.
In February 2008 Chris had the opportunity to perform as a surprise guest in three different casinos in Las Vegas.

In November 2004 Dave Ruosch left the group, Terry & the Hot Sox, and 19-year-old Chris took his place. Terry & The Hot Sox are the most popular and successful jive, swing, and R&R musicians in Switzerland and guarantee an ideal party atmosphere. Their stage presentation is excellent, the music perfect, and their energy infectious. In June 2009 Chris, along with Terry & The Hot Sox, accompanied the American singer, Wanda Jackson, who became world-famous in the 1960s because of her hit, “Let’s Have A Party.”

1985	∙	Born on October 22 in Uster, Zurich.
1995	∙	Chris discovers the piano
1996	∙	First boogie woogie lessons from Hamp Ruosch
1998	∙	First performance as a boogie woogie pianist
2001	∙	Winner of a talent contest in Zurich
2002	∙	Starts to play in a duo, with drummer Mario Von Holten
2003	∙ ∙	Blues, Rock & Boogie Night, Zurich, with Hamp Goes Wild Surprise guest at Boogie Woogie Festival, Lugano
2004	∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙	Chris plays at the biggest Boogie Woogie Festival in the World in Laroquebrou – France with Claude Bolling, Jean-Paul Amouroux, Jean-Pierre Bertrand et al. Int. Boogie Woogie Festival in Beavron en Auge – France with Martin Schmitt, Silvan Zingg et al. Chris becomes a member of the band, Terry & The Hot Sox. Int. Boogie Woogie Festival Lugano with Joja Wendt, Silvan Zingg et al. Jazztage Pino Torinese – Turin, Italy, with Silvan Zingg Various public and private performances in Switzerland and Germany. With Carl Sonny Leyland, Jean-Paul Amouroux, Silvan Zingg et al.
2005	∙ ∙ ∙ ∙	Open-Air Port, warm-up act with Terry & The Hot Sox for Bill Haley's Original Comets Int. Boogie Woogie Festival Fontmell Magna, England. With Julian Philips, Martjin Schock et al. Int. Boogie Woogie Festival Lugano First Boogie Woogie Night – Starnberg, Germany. With Martin Schmitt, Jean-Pierre Bertrand, Christoph Steinbach et al.
2006	∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙	Swing Crash Festival – Como, Italy Boogie Woogie Connection, Hamburg with Bob Seeley, Axel Zwingenberger, Gottfried Böttger et al. Public and private concerts in USA, France, Luxembourg and Germany et al. Int. Boogie Woogie Festival Kitzbüehl – Austria. With Christoph Steinbach et al. Int. Boogie Woogie Festival Lugano (Recorded by BBC World) Releases his first CD “Boogie Woogie Breakup”
2007	∙ ∙	Int. Boogie Woogie Festival Lugano Numerous private and public performances in Switzerland and abroad, with the Trio et al.
2008	∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙	Music Night Tenero with Silvan Zingg, Anke Angle, Eric Lee et al. 20th Year Celebration Boogie Woogie Connection, Hamburg - Germany with Axel Zwingenberger, Vince Weber, Jo Bohnsack, Frank Muschalle et al. Int. Boogie Woogie Festival, Kitzbüehl - Austria Int. Boogie Woogie Festival Lugano – Switzerland Blues & Boogie Show, Zurich – Switzerland. With Axel Zwingenberger and Lila Ammons Private concerts in Denver, Colorado, and guest appearances in various casinos in Las Vegas, Nevada - USA
2009	∙ ∙ ∙ ∙	Accompanies Wanda Jackson at int. Country & Trucker Festival together with Terry & The Hot Sox Int. Blues & Boogie Reunion - Barcelona, Spain. With Lluis Coloma, Ricky Nye and Fabrice Eulry Boogie Woogie & Blues Night with Axel Zwingenberger and the Piano Brothers Boogie Woogie & Blues Night, Zurich – together with Frank Muschalle Trio