Jeanfrançois Prins (born February 18, 1967) is a Belgian jazz guitarist, composer, vocalist and record producer. He has spent many years between New York City and Berlin where he was leading the Jazz Guitar departments in both music universities (UdK and HfM Hanns Eisler) for a total of 12 years. Upon his return to Belgium in 2016, he became the CEO of the GAM Records label in 2017. Career Jeanfrançois Prins began playing guitar when at eighteen years of age. A year later, he formed a band and performed in Brussels. His mentor was Toots Thielemans, who was known as a harmonica player but has started his career as a jazz guitarist. Other influences of Prins include jazz artists Lee Konitz, Miles Davis, and Kenny Werner. Prins graduated from college in with a degree in audio engineering. From 1988 to 1992, he studied jazz and guitar at the Royal Conservatory of Music, Brussels. Prins moved to New York City in 1993, he became a part of the contemporary jazz scene, to include vocalist Judy Niemack, who would later become his wife. He was the arranger/producer and guitarist for several of her albums. The two would divorce in 2016. Prins has performed live and recorded with Toots Thielemans, Randy Brecker, Eddie Gomez, Gary Foster, Fred Hersch, Billy Hart, Tim Hagans, Lew Tabackin, Lee Konitz, Mal Waldron, Theo Bleckmann, Kenny Wheeler, Gary Bartz, Victor Lewis, Cameron Brown, Jay Clayton, Jay Anderson, Ray Drummond, Adam Nussbaum, Kelvin Sholar, Kirk Nurock, Jiggs Whigham, Jim McNeely, Walter Norris, Stephen Scott, Quincy Jones, Ivan Lins, Patti Austin, and Kirk Lightsey. Since 2000, he has worked with the Berlin Jazz Orchestra. Recordings All Around Town (TCB), was inspired as his own perceptions and musical photo album of New York City. The album is recorded trio a trio: bassist Mike Richmond and drummer Adam Nussbaum, plus saxophonist Lee Konitz as a guest. His fifth CD, Light (GAM Music), is co-led by drummer Steve Davis. El Gaucho (Challenge, 2012) was recorded in New York City, with his NYC trio: Joris Teepe (bass) and Victor Lewis (drums) and tenor saxophonist Rich Perry as guest on specific tracks. El Gaucho is an example of his concepts of interactive trio and quartet playing with originals, standards and modern jazz compositions. Prins' compositions are often performed and recorded, not only by his own bands, but by several other European and American jazz artists.