Illinois native Dr. Jim Buennig is a saxophonist, composer, and educator based in Chicago, IL. He holds degrees in jazz from the University of Texas at Austin (DMA), the University of Iowa (MA), and Western Illinois University (BM). Buennig often pays homage to his musical heroes while creating innovative music that is engaging and “perpetually in the groove.”

Jim has served as a faculty member at Cornell College and Black Hawk College and served as Damani Phillips’ sabbatical replacement at the University of Iowa in spring of 2021. He has written and produced five albums as a leader since 2017 with significant national and international airtime and is an artist for D’Addario Woodwinds. His major influences include Kenny Garrett, Joe Henderson, Miles Davis, Tom Harrell, and Melissa Aldana.