Contrabass  / E-Bass/ Composition/ Label

 
Born 20.4.1968 in Neunkirchen, Lower Austria.

1968-1971 next to no noteworthy memories of these early years.

1972-74 first contact with music.

My mother listens to „ The Cream“ and „ Jimi Hendrix“, first attempts at dancing together take place in parent’s living room.

           At this time my father plays various stringed instruments and tries to teach me the guitar. After 10 min. I decide to be a football player.

 

1980: „The Wall“ by Pink Floyd puts me off a football career for good. Everything now happens quickly: Founding of a school band and, as no-one wants to play bass, I take on the job. I get my first E- Bass (a Japanese copy of a Fender Jazz)

My favourite bands at the time: Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Rush, The Cream, The Clash, to name just a few.

 

1980-84:

Participation in various formations on the Viennese Rock and New Wave scene: Collaboration with, amongst others, Christopher Just (at that time on guitar)

       

1984 - 87:

Nursing training in order to do something „sensible“ with my life. Founded the band „Morning Lake“ which, with its attempts at experimental Jazzrock,  drives all the guests at a nursing graduates ball out of the ballroom. Encouraged by this experience I decide to study music.

   

1987- 1989:

Civilian national service and work in an intensive care unit provides the financial basis for my further development. In the meantime, I discover a liking for Jazz through the Corea Electric Band. The band “Phondue” develops out of „Morning Lake“ and is largely made up of music students. It’s time to put my plans into action. I start studying E-bass at the Prayner Konservatorium in 1989. I discover the contrabass through my first teacher, Heinrich Werkl and have now found the instrument for me.

My favourite musicians at that time: Chick Corea, Weather Report, Billy Cobham, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Keith Jarrett, to name just a few.      

   

 1989-1998:      

Course of studies at the Prayner Konservatorium and the Konservatorium Johannesgasse (Ulli Langthaler), Diploma 1994 and 1997.

First engagements as a Jazz musician, in 1992 I end my nursing career and fully devote myself to music.

My musical horizons widen: Bands such as Portishead, 4 Hero and Roni Size awaken my interest in Nu- Jazz, Drum and Bass and electronic dance music.

    

    1999/2000:

after more or less successful attempts with various Ensembles comes a meeting with Ulrich Drechsler. It is the start of a long lasting collaboration with the German woodwind player.

Uli invites his former teacher, Alex Deutsch to a studio session. The convincing result of this recording leads to the founding of the Nu-Jazz Formation, „Cafe Drechsler“.

Parallel to this, there is a Jazz re-working of Schubert’s Winterreise with the band, Poesis. In addition, a studio album with the Nu-Jazz formation, „Icy Finger“ where I can present my bass lines to a wider public for the first time.

 

2001:

first collaboration with the singer, Sharon Anegg on her debut album „Legrand - Off The Beaten Track“

Cafe Drechsler wins the heart of a broader audience and gets a record contract at Universal.

 

2002/2003:

the release of the  Universal album, „Cafe Drechsler“ brings an intensive period of touring, festival appearances in Europe/America and a nomination for the Amadeus Award.

Universal show interest in „ Forms of Plasticity“, a project with my long-standing partners Johannes Specht, Lorenz Raab and Mike Breneis.

A collaboration with the producer, Rene Kornfeld begins which results in the Universal album, „Fip Fop“.

Founding of my own label „cracked anegg records“ with Sharon Anegg because the collaboration with the majors does not always bring the desired results.

Start production of the 2nd. Cafe Drechsler album „Radio Snacks“.

 

2004/ 2005:

„Radio Snacks“ is finally completed after protracted studio sessions and is followed by an intensive period of touring which ends with the bestowal of the Amadeus Award (best Jazz album 2005). Alex Deutsch attends the award ceremony on his own as I am on a tour of Mexico with FOP.

Cafe Drechsler is no longer a coherent band, there are serious personal and musical differences.

Through various productions, the „cracked anegg“ label slowly establishes itself on the Austrian Jazz landscape.

 

 

2006:

The Cafe Drechsler band splits up after a festival concert in Frankfurt.

The follow-up combo to DRECHSLER is founded, the debut album, „Fortune Cookie“ appears on cracked anegg.

The Überreuter Publishing Company commissions me to write a musical children’s book on the history of Jazz.

I spend the rest of the year working on arrangements, text and rehearsals for this commission.The „Jakob Quartett“ Ensemble is set up to work on this project.

Concert tour with DRECHSLER and the Lorenz Raab XY Band.

My work in A&R at „cracked anegg“ occupies the rest of my time.

 

2007/2008:

Completion of the children’s book: The text is finished at the beginning of 2007, the recording of the CD takes place in April 2007.

Founding of the cross-over band, Fictionary in which I, for the first time in a long while, again play E-Bass and sing and use all the experience I’ve gathered to get „Back to the Roots“.

Concert trip with DRECHSLER, XY Band. My A&R duties are further extended.

The Jeunesse shows an interest in the children’s book and produce a theatre piece.

Debut performance in February, 2008 in the Konzerthaus.

„Jazz für Kinder“ appears in January, 2008.