Swiss Jazz Musician

Elsie Brunner was born on November 5, 1930, in Zurich, Switzerland, and passed away on July 17, 2016, in the United States.

Brunner's musical journey began early, as she was awarded for her piano performance at the inaugural "Amateur Jazz Festival" in Zurich in 1953, where she also showcased her talent on the accordion. Coming from a musically inclined family, her brothers played various instruments, including trumpet and saxophone, and they collectively amassed a substantial collection of American jazz records. In 1946, Elsie and her siblings gained international recognition by winning first prizes at an accordion competition in Paris. This period also marked the beginning of jam sessions in Zurich, which led Elsie to form her first band.

In 1958, Elsie married Siro Bianchi, who played bass and clarinet, and the couple relocated to the United States. Initially pursuing careers as musicians, they later transitioned to farm ownership. Their first trip to the U.S. included performances in Palm Springs and Sun Valley alongside an American drummer. They collaborated with several prominent American jazz musicians, including Bob Cooper and his Allstar Ensemble in Hermosa Beach, and developed friendships with notable artists such as Hampton Hawes, Pete Jolly, and Curtis Counce.

From August 1959 to March 1962, Brunner and Bianchi returned to Switzerland, performing primarily at the Atlantis club in Basel and a hotel in Les Diablerets. They returned to the U.S. in April 1962 and toured extensively until 1968, including concerts in Canada, while maintaining a presence in Switzerland, particularly at the Atlantis and in popular winter resorts. During this time, they played with various American drummers in the U.S. and collaborated with Swiss drummers back home. In Basel, they caught the attention of Hans Georg Brunner-Schwer of the Saba/MPS Records label, leading to a spontaneous recording session in 1965 that produced the album "[r732676]," featuring drummer Charly Antolini.

From 1968, Brunner and Bianchi performed in Houston, Fort Worth, and Fort Walton, occasionally accompanied by Basel drummer Kenny Schmidt. Siro also contributed on flute and tenor saxophone. In the winter of 1968, they secured an engagement at the Grand Hotel in Gstaad, prompting them to cease their traveling. By summer 1967, they had purchased a home in Atlanta, Georgia, where they relocated in spring 1968. That year, Elsie's nephew, Peter Brunner, joined them on drums. The trio received a permanent engagement in Atlanta, performing at the same venue for a decade.

In 1977, Brunner and Bianchi became involved with the K-Swiss Sportshoe Factory in Atlanta, managed by Elsie's brothers in California. They performed at the Fleur De Lis until the shoe factory was established, after which they stepped away from the music scene. Following the sale of K-Swiss in 1987, they acquired a ranch in Marysville, Georgia, and in 1995, they discovered their dream farm in Royston, where they resided until Elsie's passing.