FESTIVAL 2008
"VIENNA MEETS NEW YORK"
A new generation of Austrian jazz musicians meets the New York scene
OCTOBER 31 - NOVEMBER 08, 2008
Jazz is movement. Jazz is encounter. Jazz knows no boundaries. All this is true of jazz from Austria as well. Members of the hip young scene from the Alpine republic move freely and fluidly among the multifaceted styles in the world of jazz, always intent on finding and refining their own modes of expression. There is no other city in Europe where opportunities for musicians to mingle with each other are as diverse and spontaneous as in Vienna. One of the reasons for the abundance in the creativity department is that the city's venues shy away from presenting the same old material. The spirit of openness is part of Austria's musical heritage, as is a joy of connecting with musicians from other countries. If you approach everything with curiosity, you won't know any boundaries - and that's a good way to be.
The Vienna Meets New York Jazz Festival seeks to further explore this creativity by creating new opportunities for Austrian musicians in collaborating with the finest New York musicians. To achieve this creative mission, the festival is focusing on several themes: we remember the musical life of the greatest Austrian jazz musician Joe Zawinul, whose contributions to this music will forever live on; we celebrate the different ethnicities of all of the musicians around the globe who have made contributions to jazz; and we of course celebrate the very talented musicians who are currently charting new courses in jazz in both New York City and in Austria.
Six evenings of electrifying music
The nights of October 31, November 1 & 2 will be held at JAZZ STANDARD ( referred to as the "best jazz club in New York City" by the New York Magazine) which has become a partner in the 2008 Jazz Festival. The opening concert on Friday October 31, will combine the influences of New Orleans blues, Eastern Indian rhythms, and Austrian folk tunes. On Saturday November 1, alto saxophonist Steve Wilson will lead an all-star ensemble and explore the pre-Weather Report music of Zawinul. Wilson will help us discover some of the lesser-known Zawinul works, and of course play some of the favorites from his days with the great Cannonball Adderley. Unknown to many, Joe Zawinul spent two years working with Dinah Washington. Also featured at Jazz Standard on this Saturday is Christoph "Pepe" Auer in collaboration with Art Hirahara, Nicolas Letman-Burtinovic and others with their program "The New York Sessions". On Sunday November 2, Elisabeth Lohninger & Trionada (Elisabeth Lohninger, Tim Collins, and Max Pollak) will use voice, vibraphone, and step dance to create a fusion of styles, timbres, and rhythms from Yoruba singing to rock fusion and Latin American rhythms interspersed with the odd Austrian folk song. Also on Sunday at Jazz Standard, Detroit born vocalist Carla Cook will perform some of Dinah Washington's repertoire. Her quintet includes Puerto Rican born Steve Kroon.
The second set of three concert nights (November 6 through 8) will take place at the AUSTRIAN CULTURAL FORUM (ACF), in an inspiring and intimate setting. Thursday November 6 will feature Viola Falb & Falb Fiction from Austria. Adam Holzman will be their guest on keyboards. Friday November 7 will feature the Philipp Nykrin Trio and Bill Mays' (piano) Inventions Trio featuring Marvin Stamm and Alisa Horn. The closing evening on Saturday November 8 we will invite musicians from earlier performances to be a part of our "little big band" to play some of "My Favorite Things" as we give a nod to the most widely known Austrian story in America, The Sound of Music. During the week, there will be some workshops and open rehearsals for the public held at the ACF. The sessions will have musicians from both America and Austria, and they will offer their musical perspective on a wide variety of topics.
FRIDAY OCTOBER 31, starting 7:30 PM
Location: JAZZ STANDARD
"Tyrolean Folk Music: World Edition"
THE OUTREACH FESTIVAL ENSEMBLE (AUSTRIA/ USA)
Franz Hackl, Trumpet (Austria)
Michael Wolff, Piano (USA)
Mark Egan, Bass (USA)
Gene Jackson, Drums (USA)
Badal Roy, Tablas (India/USA)
The opening night performance is filled with exciting talent, differing ethnic contributions and a taste of Austrian tradition. These diverse musicians take traditional Austrian folk tunes and inject them with world rhythms - New Orleans blues, Eastern Indian rhythms, afro-caribbean influences - bringing the familiar into the modern world of jazz.
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 1, starting 7:30 PM
Location: JAZZ STANDARD
"Mercy, Mercy, Mercy"
THE STEVE WILSON ENSEMBLE (USA)
Steve Wilson, Alto, Soprano Saxophones,
Jeremy Pelt, Trumpet
Danny Grissett, Piano
Ugonna Okegwo, Bass
Rodney Green, Drums
Known equally as a great pianist and composer, Zawinul recorded four of his own recordings before forming Weather Report: "The Rise and Fall of the Third Stream," "Money In The Pocket," and "Zawinul," and "To You With Love". This program will focus on the his earlier work, and of course a few of hits from his days with Cannonball Adderley.
Critical acclaim has followed Wilson throughout his busy career. He is known for his versatility, and for saying more with less, attributes that have drawn many other artists to work with him over the past 20-plus years. Wilson continues to set the standard for the best of what jazz can be - uplifting, unpredictable, eloquent and passionate. He has invited the best of the best that New York City has to offer for this exploration of early Zawinul music.
CHRISTOPH "PEPE" AUER: THE NEW YORK SESSIONS (AUSTRIA/ USA)
Christoph "Pepe" Auer, Reeds
Kris Davis, Piano
Nicolas Letman-Burtinovic, Bass
Ari Hoenig, Drums
"The New York Sessions are the first part of a CD compilation called Sessionwork. Sessionwork is a concept developed during my stay in New York over the summer of 2006. The first step was playing my compositions with numerous great musicians to gather ideas of how my music could sound. The result was that I arranged the compositions almost daily for two months to suit various instruments and players. After a while I decided to record with Art, Nicolas, and Ziv and we began rehearsing intensively. Everyone brought their full creativity into the compositions. Thanks to the work with these incredible musicians, it was possible to create a band sound. Through sessions with other people during that time, I often got new ideas, which I also incorporated into the rehearsals. As the result of all the sessions I played, concerts I heard, workshops I joined, and lessons I took during my stay, the band sound of The New York Sessions contains the influences of about a hundred different musicians from the New York jazz scene." (Christoph "Pepe" Auer)
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 2, starting 7:30 PM
Location: JAZZ STANDARD
"There's Something About Dinah!"
In the early 1960's, Joe Zawinul worked with Dinah Washington. You will find Joe on two seminal recordings, The Two of Us where Dinah was pared with singer Brook Benton, and What A Difference A Day Makes.
THE CARLA COOK QUINTET (USA)
Carla Cook, Vocals
Jon Cowherd, Piano
Kenny Davis, Bass
Bruce Cox, Drums
Steve Kroon, Congas, Percussion
A native Detroiter, who grew up in a musically rich and diverse environment, Carla brings all her influences to bear within her repertoire: R&B, European classical, Motown, Blues and Gospel. Refusing to become a jazz purist or snob, her willingness to simply sing what she loves, brings an earthy sophistication to every song, and is what gives Cook her signature style. Carla's first CD, on MaxJazz, was nominated for a Grammy.
ELISABETH LOHNINGER & TRIONADA (AUSTRIA/ USA)
Elisabeth Lohninger, Vocals
Max Pollak, Tap dance, body percussion
Tim Collins, Vibraphone, marimba
Lohninger, Collins, and Pollak use voice, vibraphone, and step dance to create a fusion of styles, timbres, and rhythms from very different corners of the world - from Yoruba singing to rock fusion and Latin American rhythms interspersed with the odd Austrian folk song. As long-time protagonists in the New York jazz music and dance scene, they contribute their experiences, impressions, and creative developments to form a mosaic of emotion, vibration, harmony, and backbeat. The world as an arena of dialogue, monologue, and cacophony is their stage. Original compositions, songs from the pop, rock, jazz, and world music genres as well as Cuban rhythms define their topography. The result is a delightfully eclectic acoustic kaleidoscope...
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 6, starting 7:30 PM
Location: ACF NY
"Evolution"
We follow the trail of Joe Zawinul's music after Weather Report to his solo work, spanning influences from "Duke" Ellington to Salif Keita.
ADAM HOLZMAN: PIANO (USA)
Keyboard player Adam Holzman is one of the most exciting, innovative players on the music scene today. A member of the Miles Davis Band from 1985 to 1989, he performed with the trumpet legend in more than 200 concerts worldwide and can be heard on the albums "Tutu" and "Live Around the World" (Warner Bros.) In 1988 he became Miles's musical director. For his session and live performances, Adam was praised by the New York Times for "innovative keyboard work," and by Keyboard magazine as "one of the most promising synth soloists."
VIOLA FALB & FALB FICTION (AUSTRIA)
Viola Falb, Saxophone
Philipp Jagschitz, Piano
Bernhard Meyer, Bass
Herbert Pirker, Drums
Enormous diversity and the courage to take risks are perhaps the most distinctive characteristics of Viola Falb's compositions. In their energetic performances, the four musicians meld into an effervescent entity and adopt an active and open approach to improvisation. Their latest album, Lost Control, includes a captivating selection of brilliant compositions, richly facetted improvisational elements, neat grooves, and mesmerizing moods. Lost Control does not mean that Falb Fiction have completely lost control, but that the four musicians voluntarily lose control in order to take full advantage of the moment of deliberate freedom of thoughts and actions as a musical and creative act.
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 7, starting 7:30 PM
Location: ACF NY
"Jazz and the Classics"
The European classical tradition has always born a great influence in jazz. This concert is dedicated to interpreting well-known composers' (Mozart, Borodin, Debussy, Bach and Gershwin) works in modern jazz language.
BILL MAYS THE INVENTIONS TRIO (USA)
Bill Mays, Piano
Marvin Stamm, Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Alisa Horn, Cello
Former musical director for Sarah Vaughan, Mays has built an enviable career in music. A prolific composer and arranger, he has contributed music to the recordings and libraries of many artists including Carnegie Hall Jazz Orchestra; Woody Herman Band; Shelly Manne; Bud Shank; Lew Tabackin; and Phil Woods. He's played with such elite jazz players as Gerry Mulligan; Ron Carter; Sonny Stitt; Art Pepper; Phil Woods; and Benny Golson. Mays has released 14 leader CDs now on Discovery, DMP, Concord and most recently, Palmetto Records. His previous three CDs on Palmetto were theme concepts about topics dear to Mays and won acclaim nationwide.
PHILIPP NYKRIN TRIO (AUSTRIA)
Philipp Nykrin, Piano
Stephan Kondert, Bass
Nasheet Waits, Drums
When Phillip Nykrin received a music grant from the Province of Salzburg in 2006, the jury praised the musician's "sizzling energy, outstanding arrangements, and promising trio formation." Now that the composer and pianist has teamed up with Matthias Pichler and Peter Kronreif, he has impressively confirmed the accolades on his debut CD Open-Ended. The Philipp Nykrin Trio has already developed an original sound based on a wide variety of musical influences from hip-hop and electronic music. Philipp Nykrin's compositions also evince a very unique vocabulary of form and harmony. "It will always be jazz," says Nykrin, "even if jazz is just the source. Matthias and Peter contribute the rhythm that gives me the necessary backing, and as soloists they are also capable of infusing a piece with character from their own perspective. This allows me to keep rediscovering my own compositions." Says Christoph Cech, director of the summer music school Jazz Improvised Music Salzburg (JIMS): "Philipp Nykrin's epic compositions contribute a lot of European creativity to the trio's solid grounding in jazz and allow for the densest possible interaction. With Matthias Pichler and Peter Kronreif, he performs in one of the best young rhythm groups in the country. They are a piano trio act with high-end character."
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 8, starting 7:30 PM
Location: ACFNY
ACF -LITTLE BIG BAND (AUSTRIA/USA)
"The Sounds of Music"
Christoph 'Pepe' Auer, Reeds (A)
Franz Hackl, Trumpet/Flugelhorn (A)
John Clark, French Horn (USA)
Dave Taylor, Bass Trombone (USA)
Adam Holzman, Piano/Keyboard (USA)
Marcus Rojas, Tuba (USA)
Herbert Pirker, Drums (A)
Café, Percussion (USA)
Our closing night celebration! Select artists who have appeared on previous programs will be invited to be a part of the Austrian Cultural Forum's "Little Big Band." Here musicians from both sides of the Atlantic will pay tribute to the America classic musical "The Sound of Music" as well as revisit some of the themes heard in previous nights.
JAZZ STANDARD
116 E 27th Street (b/w Park and Lex)
New York, NY 10016
AUSTRIAN CULTURAL FORUM NEW YORK
11 E 52nd Street (b/w 5th and Madison)
New York, NY 10022
