Focusyear Band 22, coached by Wolfgang Muthspiel

Guitarist Wolfgang Muthspiel (*1965) lives in Vienna and is considered one of the most influential guitarists of his generation. After a classical education on the violin, he discovers his love for the guitar at the age of 15. His interest in his own and improvised music eventually led him to jazz. After studying with Mick Goodrick at the New England Conservatory and later at Berklee College of Music in Boston, he toured for two years with the Gary Burton Quintet and gained an excellent reputation in the jazz scene. From the mid-1990s he lives and works in the jazz capital of New York. Together with Rebekka Bakken, he ventured into the world of pop music during this time, while pursuing the electronic project Muthspiel/Muthspiel with his brother. As a sought-after sideman he acts for Trilok Gurtu, Dhafer Youssef, Youssou N'Dour, Maria Joao, Dave Liebman, Peter Erskine, Paul Motian, Bob Berg, Gary Peacock, Don Alias, Larry Grenadier, John Patitucci, Dieter Ilg, the Vienna Art Orchestra and many others.

In 2000 he founded the label "Material Records", which to date has released numerous recordings by artists of international stature. After the European tour with his new quartet (2008) and the duo project "Friendly Travelers" in collaboration with drummer Brian Blade (2008), Wolfgang Muthspiel dedicates more time to the trio "MGT" (Muthspiel - Grigoryan - Towner), which, after several concert tours, releases a highly acclaimed debut album "From A Dream". He also composes for various ensembles such as Klangforum Wien and, in the Haydn Year 2009, a commissioned work for the Esterházy Foundation. He produces recordings of young musicians and directs the guitar class of the Musikhochschule Basel FHNW. His current projects continue to include the "Wolfgang Muthspiel Trio", the "Drumfree Trio", the highly acclaimed "Wolfgang Muthspiel Quintet", as well as his ever evolving solo performance.

In June 2012, the recording of the project "Vienna Naked" was released, a song program Muthspiel composed for guitar and voice. With "MGT" Muthspiel debuted in 2013 with the album "Travel Guide" on the renowned Munich label ECM. This was followed in 2014 by his debut as a bandleader on ECM. The trio recording "Driftwood" with Brian Blade and Larry Grenadier triggers an extensive media echo and in 2014 Muthspiel receives his own cycle at the Konzerthaus Wien. Another vocal recording follows in 2015 with the Vienna World project, during which he performs and records with eighteen musicians in Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, New York, Sweden and Vienna.

In the fall of 2016, "Rising Grace" was released on ECM Records. This quintet recording featuring Brad Mehldau, Ambrose Akinmusire, Brian Blade, and Larry Grenadier graced many Best of 2016 lists, received a five out of five star rating from Downbeat Magazine, and brought Wolfgang Muthspiel Quintet numerous sold-out concerts worldwide. Among Muthspiel's numerous awards are the Hans Koller Award for Musician of the Year and the European Jazz Musician of the Year Award in 2003, and Musicians Magazine named him one of the "Top Ten Jazz guitarists of the World."

Also on ECM and with this quintet, Muthspiel published "Where The River Goes" two years later, this time with Eric Harland as the drummer. In 2020 the trio album "Angular Blues" with Scott Colley and Brian Blade was released.

www.wolfgangmuthspiel.com

Admission: CHF 15.-/10.-


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