The Vienna Art Orchestra counted Wolfgang Puschnig as a founding member in the mid-1970s, marking the beginning of a long career in jazz. Born in 1956 in Klagenfurt am Wörthersee, Austria, he developed expertise on saxophone, flute, and bass clarinet, eventually establishing himself as a multifaceted composer, bandleader, and academic in his home country.
Early Career and Ensemble Work
After completing his studies at the Vienna Conservatory, Puschnig played with the Vienna Art Orchestra until 1989. During the early 1980s, he performed with Hans Koller and participated in projects with the quartets Air Mail and Saxofour. His collaborative output during this period also included work with Ernst Jandl and Lauren Newton.
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Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Puschnig engaged in diverse musical ventures. He worked with Carla Bley on several recordings, including The Very Big Carla Bley Band and Looking for America. His project Alpine Aspects, which debuted in 1991, featured a blend of jazz and local Amstetten musicians, with notable performances at JazzFest Berlin in 2006. He also integrated traditional Korean percussion by performing with the ensemble SamulNori.
Academic Contributions and Professional Recognition
Beyond his performance schedule, Puschnig holds the position of professor at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, where he previously served as Head of the Department of Popular Music. His contributions to the field have earned him several distinctions, including the Hans Koller Prize for Jazz Musician of the Year in 1998 and an honorary doctorate from the University of Klagenfurt in 2004.
Fast facts
- Born: 1956, Klagenfurt am Wörthersee
- Primary instruments: saxophone, flute, bass clarinet
- 1998: Hans Koller Prize as Jazz Musician of the Year
- 2004: Honorary doctorate from the University of Klagenfurt
- 2016: Officer's Cross of the State of Carinthia's Order of Merit
- 2022: Cultural Prize of Carinthia
Questions readers ask
What instruments does Wolfgang Puschnig play?
He is a multi-instrumentalist proficient in saxophone, flute, and bass clarinet.
With which notable ensembles has Puschnig performed?
He was a founding member of the Vienna Art Orchestra and has performed with Carla Bley and the Korean percussion group SamulNori.
Achievements
- Instruments: saxophone, flute and bass clarinet
- Genres: jazz
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