FuzzNoir ‘Quinze’

One of the bands from the beginning (of the JazzWerkstatt Wien) that added a lot of new spice to the soup was the quartet FuzzNoir, which has now picked up the common thread again after 14 years. Also there was Wolfgang Schiftner, a sensational new alto saxophone stylist at the time, who turned to Sufism as part of a musical break that now seems to be over and now goes by the first name Ahmad. And is still a stupendous player. His colleagues are now central figures in the local jazz scene with a pan-European influence. Immediately we started letting things go like we always did. Starting with a massive bass line that rocked into the pit of your stomach. From Preuschl constantly, partly rudimentary, partly filling, melodically/harmonically varied, transformed. His playing is influenced by guitar technique, formulated in perfect arpeggio playing, with phrasing appropriate to the instrument. Complemented by the rhythmic congruence with drummer Prowaznik. Its elastic funky punch, alternating with sophisticated fill-ins and fill-outs, imbues the music with a polyrhythmic/metric diversity. Periodicity is either drawn out or shortened. This always caused suspenseful twists and turns. Schiftner and Rom multiplied the polyphonic movement with their heavy improvisations. Schifter has remained the melodic genius who creates bands of sound with clear clarity. His sound cuts the ether into small pieces. It had uninhibited directness but also ballad-like evidence. In both horizontal and vertical progressions, guitarist Rom creates expansive conditions, further expanding the transparency of the linear blueprint of the music. Delicate swell sounds, jangly funk chords, intricate clusters or single-tone sustains play a significant role here. In terms of sound aesthetics, the guitarist switches between “jazz-dry” and “rock-snotty” – seamlessly. In keeping with the protagonists' broad musical understanding, a wide variety of stylistic influences shimmer through the primary jazz corpus of the pieces. All originals. From rock muscles, as the most formative “nutrient supplement” to, for example, African highlife. Corresponding improvisational art at the highest level with great attention to the collective sound. Behind this lies an extensive desire to play and stormy vitality. Music like a layer of dew, fresh and fleeing. It passes the test of time brilliantly. Wrroooom Zack, that worked. Please stay on it. (Hannes Schweiger)

Program and cast

Ahmad Schiftner: alto saxophone
Peter Rom: guitar
Raphael Preuschl: bass
Michael Prowaznik: drums