Hampel is one of jazz's most prolific and self-reliant musicians. In 1969, he formed Birth Records to release The 8th of July 1969, an album of his compositions performed by a group that included Anthony Braxton, Jeanne Lee, Steve McCall, Willem Breuker, and Arjen Gorter. Since then, Birth has released nearly 50 albums of Hampel's work in a variety of configurations; some of his performance and recording groups have been the Gunter Hampel Jazz Quintet, "Heartplants" Quintet, World Community Orchestra, Free Jazz Trio, and New York Orchestra.
Hampel began piano lessons at the ...