Wolfgang Puschnig was born in Klagenfurt in Carinthia in 1956. He moved to Vienna in mid-1970s in order to study flute and saxophone at the conservatory. He co-founded the Vienna Art Orchestra in 1977. He remained with it until 1989, and he was its most prominent soloist. Puschnig also started his first independent band projects during this time, such as. Part of Art, Air Mail and Pat Brothers. His collaboration with Carla Bley began in 1985. It continues to this day. Puschnig released Pieces of a Dream in 1988, his debut album. Soon after, the saxophonist decided to quit the Vienna Art Orchestra and pursue a solo career. Puschnig launched several internationally-respected band projects, often with Linda Sharrock as a collaborator. These included Red Sun, a group he formed with the Korean percussion quartet Samul Nori; the Gemini Funk Jazz duo with Ornette Coleman’s ex-bassist Jamaaladeen Tacuma; and Alpine Aspects which combines traditional Austrian brass band music with pure jazz-funk. In 2006, the project was revived and Puschnig released Homage To O. C. in 2008. This album features arrangements of Ornette Coleman tunes. Things Change – The 50th Anniversary Box (2006), Grey (2001), featuring Victor Lewis, Don Alias, and Steve Swallow, are his most prominent post-millennium recordings. Late Night Show (2005) was also released on two CDs. Puschnig’s production seems to only adopt the pop song cover trend (even reinterpreting Elvis Presley’s Love Me Tender), but he is first and foremost a champion of the art of slow, yet thrilling grooves. Wolfgang Puschnig, professor and director of Institute of Popular Music at University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna. From www.col-legno.com
