Igor Flach

Who was Igor Flach?

Igor Flach, who was born 12 March 1966 in Jena, Germany and died 8 March 2008 in Berlin was a German musician and harmonica virtuoso, considered by many to be one of the most gifted harmonica players ever.

He was originally drawn to blues, but later defied any attempt to pigeonhole him into any specific genre as he experimented with folk and country music. Flach incorporated all that into an unorthodox, hypnotic rhythm.

He learned to play harmonica at the age of 10 and was inspired by Stefan Diestelmann and the French Bluesharp player Jean Jacques Milteau.

He launched his professional career in 1984 with the Jonathan Blues Band. From 1987 to 1989, he played with Passat and appeared as a guest musician with Pankow and the Tino Standhaft Band.

In the 1990s, Flach began a solo career and toured the United States, France and Russia. He made guest appearances on several recordings of the period, including the Yardbirds, Alicia Levy, Louisiana Red, The Uwe-Ochsenknecht Band, Abi Wallenstein, Buzz Dee, Rudi Howard and Guitar Crusher. With Stefan Strahl, he created a German-language Neil Young cover band. Until his death, he was a part of an intensive cooperation with Uwe Bluesrudi Haase as the “Igor flat & Bluesman Rudi" duo.