Jonathan Kline

Jonathan Kline began study of the violin at age seven. By age fourteen he was attending the pre college division of The Julliard School in NYC on scholarship. His study of the violin and music continued at the Boston University School of Fine Arts. While in Boston, he played throughout the area with the jazz group Worlds led by bassist Jamyll Jones. Soon after leaving Boston, he joined the Free Jazz Ensemble led by the German multi-instrumentalist and composer Gunter Hampel. With them, Jonathan performed extensively in the New York City area and toured much of Europe. Interested in all types of music, he has been a member of groups playing Charanga, Klezmer, Celtic, and Balkan music. While in Colombia, he played with folkloric musicians from both the north and west coasts. Largely self taught as a percussionist, Jonathan has played hand percussion for twenty five years. Jonathan's focus on Afro-Cuban music has intensified through his meeting and friendship with Cuban-American percussionist Hiram Jimenez.