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Harry Pepl * 1945  † 2005

Press archive

What was written and broadcast about Harry Pepl: reviews, portraits, interviews and obituaries, with summary and source. The originals are protected by copyright and kept in the archive; we provide them to researchers and the press on request.

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  1. 26 November 2025 · Report · DE

    Fullmax Recordings (Website): Beitrag zum Österreichischen Jazzpreis 2025, Best Album

    Post on the album “Live” taking 2nd place in the Best Album category at the Austrian Jazz Award 2025 (award for jazz from Austria).

    more Fullmax Recordings (Website)

    The Jazz Academy consists of 149 experts, there were over 170 submissions and a seven-member expert jury; the award ceremony took place at Casino Velden.

  2. November 2025 · Report · DE

    ORF Kärnten (Online): Bericht über den Österreichischen Jazzpreis 2025

    Report on the presentation of the Austrian Jazz Award 2025 (award for jazz from Austria) at Casino Velden, with the ranking in the Best Album category: Kenji Herbert Trio ahead of Harry Pepl (tape) & The (Lonely) Single Swinger Band and the Tobias Meissl Trio.

  3. 11 June 2020 · Report · DE

    radiohoerer.info: „Harry Pepls ‚Hip Jargon‘ plus Werner Pirchner anno 1975“

    Music tip on the blog radiohoerer.info (radio and media tips for new music, jazz and audio) for the programme “In Concert” on Ö1, the cultural radio station of the ORF (Austria's public broadcaster), on 5 June 2020. The post reproduces Ö1's programme text (presented by Helmut Jasbar): a recording from the ORF radio archive captures Pepl's trio Hip Jargon with Wayne Darling (double bass) and Fritz Ozmec (drums) on 25 September 1975 in the Large Broadcasting Hall of the Funkhaus in Vienna, Austria, with Werner Pirchner as guest on vibraphone. This lets Hip Jargon be heard as the nucleus of the Jazzzwio. The blog's playlist names three joint pieces by Pepl and Pirchner, among them “Pfifferling” and “Down At The Ticky Toe”; titles and durations differ from the Ö1 programme page, which is authoritative.

    more radiohoerer.info

    “Free jazz for connoisseurs” was what a critic in the Salzburger Volksblatt, a daily newspaper in Salzburg, Austria, called it at the time.

    the unpolished gem of a concert on 25 September 1975 in the Large Broadcasting Hall of the Vienna Funkhaus, the ORF's broadcasting house

    Free jazz for connoisseurs

    Verdict of a critic of the Salzburger Volksblatt, a daily newspaper in Salzburg, Austria, on Pepl's trio Hip Jargon around 1975, when Werner Pirchner joined as a guest; this collaboration grew into the Jazzzwio

    Kritiker des Salzburger Volksblatts

  4. 10 October 2017 · Report · DE

    Ö1 (oe1.orf.at, article): „Der Gratwanderer Werner Pirchner“

    Article on Werner Pirchner for the tenth anniversary of his death, shown on the page with the date 10 October 2017 but referring in the text to 10 August 2011. It names the Jazz-Zwio with Harry Pepl as a stage that also made Pirchner known in the international jazz scene; the focus is on Pirchner.

    more Ö1 (oe1.orf.at, article)

    together with Harry Pepl in the legendary JazzZwio

  5. 20 September 2017 · Report · DE

    Ö1 (oe1.orf.at, article): „Der Musiker Werner Pirchner“

    Short portrait of Werner Pirchner (13 February 1940 to 10 August 2001) as a jazz musician and composer.

    more Ö1 (oe1.orf.at, article)

    It lists the Pirchner-Pepl-JazzZwio, founded in 1975, with its appearances until the mid-1980s, among others in Velden, Montreux and Saalfelden; the focus is on Pirchner.

    With the guitarist Harry Pepl he founded the Pirchner-Pepl-JazzZwio in 1975

  6. 8 April 2017 · Report · DE

    Ö1 (oe1.orf.at, article): „Pirchner und Pepl“ (Muthspiel Trio spielt „Against the Wind“)

    Haide Tenner (Gesprächspartnerin)

    Item on the CD “Against the Wind”, on which the Christian Muthspiel Trio plays works by Harry Pepl and Werner Pirchner.

    more Ö1 (oe1.orf.at, article)

    In conversation with Haide Tenner on the “Klassik-Treffpunkt”, Muthspiel tells how the CD came about out of the commemoration of Pirchner and the programme “Pepl/Pirchner”.

    The musicians play works by the composers Harry Pepl and Werner Pirchner, who died early.

  7. 16 May 2016 · Report · DE

    Die Presse (Online): „Resch, renitent: Der Sound des Sauwalds“

    Samir H. Köck

    Report on the 30th anniversary of the Inntöne festival in Diersbach. It also describes the performance of the homage to Harry Pepl, in which fragments of Pepl’s recordings were played in and which not everyone liked.

    more Die Presse (Online)

    an artistic high-wire act in which fragments of Pepl’s recordings were also played in

  8. 12 May 2016 · Report · DE

    Der Standard (Online): „Inntöne-Festival: Session mit der Historie“

    Preview of the INNtöne festival (jazz festival in Diersbach, Upper Austria).

    more Der Standard (Online)

    The saxophonist Clemens Salesny, the guitarist Martin Bayer, the drummer Peter Primus Frosch and the singer Agnes Heginger interpret pieces by Harry Pepl on the Saturday, improvise on them and respond to recordings that Pepl improvised for his Lonely Single Swinger Band: guitar, synthesizer, piano, vocals and drums, all recorded by himself at home. Der Standard calls this a formidable example of an engagement with history that yields “delicate results”.

    There are, however, ways of engaging with history that yield delicate results. A formidable example can be experienced on Saturday at the Inntöne festival in Diersbach (which begins on Friday), when sounds by the guitarist Harry Pepl (who died in 2005) also ring out from the stage.

    Guitar, synthesizer, piano, vocals, drums: Pepl once recorded everything himself at home.

    Clemens Salesny, Martin Bayer, Peter Primus Frosch and Agnes Heginger interpret Harry Pepl

  9. 24 December 2015 · Report · DE

    NÖN (Online, Hollabrunn): „Viola Falb, die erste Frau im Jazz“

    Report on the saxophonist and composer Viola Falb from the Hollabrunn district in Lower Austria: at the opening of this year's Austrian Soundcheck (festival in Graz) in Graz, Austria, she received the fifth Harry Pepl Prize, endowed with 4,000 euros.

    more NÖN (Online, Hollabrunn)

    The laudatory speaker Ute Pinter highlighted her cross-border compositions and band projects, entirely in the spirit of the musical patron Harry Pepl. Printed in the edition of 23 December 2015, p. 6.

    Viola Falb, the district's exceptional artist, received the 5th Harry Pepl Prize in Graz.

    entirely in the spirit of the musical patron Harry Pepl

  10. 18 November 2015 · Report · DE

    Falter 47/2015 (Rubrik Steiermark): „Steiermark kurz“

    Short news from Styria. One item reports that the Harry Pepl Prize, endowed with 5,000 euros, went to the composer and saxophonist Viola Falb at the Austria Soundcheck (festival in Graz).

    more Falter 47/2015 (Rubrik Steiermark)

    the Harry Pepl Prize to the composer and saxophonist Viola Falb

  11. 31 August 2015 · Report · DE

    Die Presse (Online): „Saalfelden: Schmerz an der Heimat, Störung der Jazz-Idylle“

    Samir H. Köck

    Festival report from Jazzfest Saalfelden 2015 (major jazz festival in the Salzburg region). The festival recalled Werner Pirchner’s 75th birthday and also commemorated the guitarist Harry Pepl, who died in 2005.

    more Die Presse (Online)

    also commemorated the guitarist Harry Pepl, who died in 2005

    And he also remembered the guitarist Harry Pepl, who died in 2005 and formed the Jazzzwio with Pirchner, whose sophisticated musical language was praised internationally as well.

  12. 26 March 2014 · Report · DE

    Falter 13/2014 (arts section): „Erinnerungen an Werner Pirchner, den Frank Zappa aus Hall in Tirol“

    Klaus Nüchtern

    Review of the film “D.U.D.A.!” by Werner Ludin about Werner Pirchner. The text mentions Pirchner’s collaboration with the guitarist Harry Pepl, through which he became an internationally sought-after jazz virtuoso; the focus is on Pirchner.

    more Falter 13/2014 (arts section)

    Through his collaboration with the guitarist Harry Pepl he rose to become an internationally sought-after jazz virtuoso

  13. 25 November 2013 · Report · DE

    mica music austria: „Clemens Salesny erhält den Harry Pepl Preis“

    News item on the fourth presentation of the Harry Pepl Prize at the Austrian Soundcheck (festival in Graz) in Graz: the encouragement prize went in 2013 to the alto saxophonist Clemens Salesny. The article briefly introduces Salesny and his projects.

    more mica music austria

    This year the Harry Pepl Prize was awarded for the fourth time as part of the “Austrian Soundcheck” in Graz.

  14. 17 September 2010 · Report · DE

    mica music austria: „STUDIO FAN, das Abonnementprogramm des Ensembles Studio Dan“

    Presentation of the subscription series of the Viennese ensemble Studio Dan with a short biography of its leader Daniel Riegler. For 2008 it lists his leadership of the Porgy & Bess (Vienna jazz club) stage band and the Harry Pepl Prize 2008.

  15. 3 December 2007 · Report · DE

    mica music austria: „Tribute to Harry Pepl im Porgy“

    Announcement of a tribute evening at Porgy & Bess (Vienna jazz club) in Vienna on 6 December 2007, two years after Pepl’s death.

    more mica music austria

    The text pays tribute to him as an internationally sought-after boundary-crosser and names collaborations with Benny Goodman, Dave Holland, Dino Saluzzi, Jon Christensen and Dave Liebman. The evening is organised by former companions, prompted by the Graz platform Gamsb'Art, which awards the Harry Pepl Prize.

    one of the most respected Austrian musicians

  16. 22 November 2006 · Report · DE

    Der Standard (culture, Printausgabe): „Jazzwohnzimmer Miles Smiles feiert“

    felb

    Short report on the 15th anniversary of the Viennese jazz club Miles Smiles in the Josefstadt, founded by Wulf Müller.

    more Der Standard (culture, Printausgabe)

    The first concert in autumn 1981 was played by Bill Frisell and Eberhard Weber. Among those who recorded there were Aladár Pege, Jim Pepper and David Friesen, along with Austrian musicians down to Werner Pirchner and Harry Pepl.

    along with Austrian greats from Werner Pirchner and Harry Pepl downwards

  17. 17 November 2006 · Report · DE

    Kleine Zeitung (Online, culture section): „Harry Pepl: Œuvre eines Kreativen“

    Michael Tschida

    Online article on the first presentation of the Harry Pepl Prize in Graz, seen as an impetus to safeguard Pepl’s musical estate.

    more Kleine Zeitung (Online, culture section)

    His work, it says, is stored in boxes at the house, with tapes, scores and technical oddities; gamsbART (Graz concert promoter) is said to have promised that future diploma scholarships should support the scholarly study of it.

    to archive the work of an exceptionally creative person

    Gerhard Kosel

    How much the star guitarist still inspires jazz musicians even now should be shown by more than just today’s final of the “Austrian Soundcheck”. Hats off to Harry P.!

  18. December 1998 · Report · DE

    Das Waldviertel, Jahrgang 47, Heft 4 (p. 408): Kulturpreise des Landes Niederösterreich 1998 (nach NÖ Landeskorrespondenz, 22.10.1998)

    List of the prizewinners of the 1998 culture prizes of the state of Lower Austria (award of the State of Lower Austria for the arts and culture), based on a release from the NÖ Landeskorrespondenz of 22 October 1998. In the music category Harry Pepl receives the prize of honour, while Friedrich Keil and Elisabeth Schimana receive recognition prizes.

    more Das Waldviertel, Jahrgang 47, Heft 4 (p. 408)

    Music: Harry Pepl (prize of honour), Friedrich Keil and Elisabeth Schimana (recognition prizes)

  19. December 1992 · Report · DE

    Jazzlive (vol. 10, no. 99/1992): Titelbild Harry Pepl; „Soundknitting. Die farbenfrohen Klangmuster der New Yorker Knitting Factory“

    Hannes Schweiger (article); Rainer Rygalyk (cover photo)

    The Viennese jazz magazine shows Harry Pepl on its cover, photographed by the publisher Rainer Rygalyk.

    more Jazzlive (vol. 10, no. 99/1992)

    In the issue, Hannes Schweiger describes the history and programme of the New York club Knitting Factory (New York music club for jazz and the avant-garde) and reports that in summer 1992 Pepl played there for an evening with his quartet (Klaus Stötter, Paul Nowinski, JoJo Mayer). Pepl describes how the pace of New York changed the way he plays.

    I noticed myself that I play completely differently there than at home.

    On his performance at the Knitting Factory, New York’s avant-garde club, in summer 1992

    Harry Pepl

    The ambience of the club is rather plain. Playing there was really an experience.

    On the Knitting Factory, New York’s avant-garde club, where he played in summer 1992

    Harry Pepl

  20. February 1990 · Report · DE

    Tschin Bumm (music magazine, technology column, p. 52): „Harry Pepl im Studio: Das Bösendorfer-Projekt“

    Studio report on the recordings for “Schönberg Improvations” (PolyGram) at the SingSang studio in Vienna: six studio days, pieces averaging 15 minutes with borrowings from Arnold Schoenberg, entirely without guitar tone, on the Bösendorfer (Vienna piano maker) computer grand piano, with David Liebman, Mino Cinelu and Wolfgang Reisinger. Pepl had played in the parts at home on the Roland MIDI guitar; the studio head Richie Österreicher jr. explains the technology. Only page 52 has survived; the continuation is missing from the scan.

    more Tschin Bumm (music magazine, technology column, p. 52)

    Harry Pepl is a man like Albert Einstein, a genius whom probably only a handful of people can still follow in his work.

    Richie Österreicher jr.

    The latest LP by the guitarist, acclaimed worldwide, is: a piano record.

  21. 20 June 1986 · Report · DE

    Gemeindeblatt für den Bezirk Landeck, no. 25: „Jazz-Formation »Air Mail« gastiert in Landeck“

    Preview in the Gemeindeblatt für den Bezirk Landeck (Tyrol, Austria), a local paper delivered to every household in the district, of Air Mail's concert on Thursday, 19 June 1986, at 8.30 p.m. at the Hotel Sonne in Landeck, the last before the summer break.

    more Gemeindeblatt für den Bezirk Landeck, no. 25

    The band's profile gives 1984 as the year it was founded and names its international debut at the New Jazz Festival Moers and at festivals in Cologne and Warsaw, the LP “Prayer for Peace” (1985) and the tour in May and June 1986 through Switzerland, Germany, France and Austria with the festivals in Coutances, Amiens, Maur near Zurich and Neuwied, as well as invitations to Istanbul, Ankara and Basel. It adds four press quotes in English, Polish, French and German, without naming the publications, and a group photo by Rainer Rygalyk.

    “Air Mail”, one of the best contemporary quartets on the European jazz scene, is coming to town.

    A much-noticed international debut at the “New Jazz Festival Moers” and at the festivals in Cologne and Warsaw.

    Air Mail was the most enjoya[ble] discovery of the festival

    English-language press quote on a festival appearance by Air Mail, publication and year not named; the Gemeindeblatt für den Bezirk Landeck, a local paper in Tyrol, printed it in 1986 before the concert at the Hotel Sonne. The addition in square brackets fills the cut-off margin of the print.

    an ideal jazz quartet … in the same breath we cite the example of John Coltrane's quartet of the 1960s

    Polish press quote, publication and year not named; it compares Air Mail with John Coltrane's quartet of the 1960s. The Polish wording is given as printed in the Gemeindeblatt für den Bezirk Landeck in 1986, with copying errors and additions at the margin in square brackets.

    Air Mail is establishing itself as one of the most exciting quartets on the European scene.

    French-language press quote, publication and year not named; the original wording is given as printed in the Gemeindeblatt für den Bezirk Landeck in 1986.

    A music that does justice to a trait of the times, an artistic togetherness to whose wholeness each contributes his own independent and irreplaceable share.

    German-language press quote on Air Mail, publication and year not named; as printed in the Gemeindeblatt für den Bezirk Landeck, a local paper in Tyrol, in 1986.

  22. 20 May 1982 · Report · DE

    Steirerkrone (Neue Kronen Zeitung, Styria edition): „Star mit Witz: Larry Coryell“

    Ronnie Herbolzheimer

    Report on the concert of the American guitarist Larry Coryell with the Polish violinist Michal Urbaniak at the Münzl in Graz.

    more Steirerkrone (Neue Kronen Zeitung, Styria edition)

    The afternoon before, Coryell visited the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz, showed the students some new tricks and played a jam session with Harry Pepl, who, according to the report, greatly impressed him.

    to play a jam session with Harry Pepl, by whom he was very impressed.

  23. 30 April 1980 · Report · DE

    Burgenländische Freiheit (gedruckte p. 52, ANNO-p. 44): „Jazz aktuell“ bei Jeunesses Musicales

    Short report on the “Jazz aktuell” concert of the Musical Youth on 21 April 1980 in the assembly hall of the Pädagogische Akademie Eisenstadt.

    more Burgenländische Freiheit (gedruckte p. 52, ANNO-p. 44)

    The quintet “5 Neighbours”, led by the pianist Dieter Glawischnig, was joined as soloists by Werner Pirchner on vibraphone and Harry Pepl on guitar.

    Vibraphone and Harry Pepl on guitar demonstrated convincingly