Composin', playin' the guitar, puttin' bands together…

In the early 1990s I began to work as a musician, arranger and composer for local bands, broadcast orchestras and theatres. From 1996 on I was privileged to work with Roman Gottwald´s fantastic Salonorchester Alhambra where I met some of the finest musicians in Vienna. Out of this great musical experience I founded my own bands "Chameleon Changes" and "Zur Eisernen Zeit – Natural Born Viennese".

Discography
Chameleon Changes

Chameleon Changes

Just by walking you´ll find new ways.

Founded in 2001, this band sets its focus mainly on my own composed music in modern jazz. Trying to push the boundaries between composed and improvised music, I’m very lucky to have the opportunity play alongside the likes of Bertl Mayer, Herwig Gradischnig, Daniel Nösig, Thomas Gansch, Robert Bachner, Christian Radovan, Oliver Kent, Michael Hornek, Hans Strasser, Matthias Pichler and Mario Gonzi. Our pieces sometimes develop like a piano performance of Thelonious Monk, sometimes resembling that of a risky tightrope walk: all of a sudden seemingly familiar and radical ideas are being simultaneously confronted. At its core, and consistently throughout, our music adheres with what you simply might call JAZZ!

Current Line-up

Herwig Gradischnig: reeds
Daniel Nösig: trumpet
Robert Bachner: trombone
Bertl Mayer: chrom. harp
Oliver Kent: piano
Hans Strasser : bass
Mario Gonzi: drums
Marcus Ratka: guitar, music director

Discography

  • The dangerous Lab Audio CD
    The dangerous Lab
    Quinton Records | 2016
  • Chameleon Changes Audio CD
    Chameleon Changes
    Preiser Records | 2005
For management and booking inquiaries please contact
QUINTON RECORDS Musik und Kommunikations GmbH
ph: +43 (0)1 929 16 08 – 100
office@quinton.at

Media

Articles & Posts

Chameleon Changes at Jazzland Vienna 15 Years of Quinton Records - Chameleon Changes at Porgy & Bess on Sep 30th Chameleon Changes at JAZZ FEST WIEN 2016 Chameleon Changes - The Dangerous Lab Preparing for playing at the Jazz Fest Wien
Natural Born Viennese

Zur eisernen Zeit - Natural Born Viennese

All that Schubert, Schrammel, Strauss and Schoenberg!

Growing up only a stone´s throw away from Franz Schubert´s birthplace, I was naturally suffused by the spirit of Viennese music at its best. After growing older and spending evenings at what is probably one of Vienna’s most charming districts, Nussdorf, I was equally suffused by the spirits of Viennese wines. Beethoven obviously appreciated such liquids as well, as he too lived there for quite some time. Furthermore, the Schrammel-Brothers put together what was called the Schrammel-Quartet, a smaller and more intimate version of All That Strauss Big Band. Some years later, Arnold Schoenberg stumbled upon the idea that the twelve tones from the western musical system start to sound much more exotic, when you free them from the methods of tonal organisation that had been used up until then. And so modern music was born! As a natural born Viennese I couldn’t resist trying to add a modest bit to the great tradition of Viennese music.

Current Line-up

Weiping Lin: violin
Bertl Mayer: chrom. harp
Leonhard Paul: trombone
Alexander Lackner: bass
Marcus Ratka: guitar, music director

Discography

  • Zur eisernen Zeit Audio CD
    Natural Born Viennese
    Quinton Records | 2012
  • Captain Austria Audio CD
    Captain Austria
    Quinton Records | 2012
  • Zur eisernen Zeit Audio CD
    Zur eisernen Zeit
    Preiser Records | 2003
For management and booking inquiaries please contact
QUINTON RECORDS Musik und Kommunikations GmbH
ph: +43 (0)1 929 16 08 – 100
office@quinton.at

Media

Articles & Posts

Meeting Herbie Hancock at International Jazz Day in St. Petersburg Chameleon Changes at Jazzland Vienna 15 Years of Quinton Records - Chameleon Changes at Porgy & Bess on Sep 30th Looking forward to playing with Thomas Gansch and Friends on September 10th Chameleon Changes at JAZZ FEST WIEN 2016 Preparing for playing at the Jazz Fest Wien