Chronology
Life and work year by year. Every entry is documented; we welcome additions and corrections.
Filters
1940s
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10 September 1945
Born in Vienna
Vienna
Harald “Harry” Pepl was born in Vienna on 10 September 1945 and grew up in Floridsdorf. The Frankfurter Allgemeine mistakenly gives 1944.
Life
1950s
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1952
First instrument: the accordion
Vienna
At about the age of seven (the earlier website says eight), Pepl was given an accordion and played Viennese songs, Schubert, Mozart, opera arias and the popular songs of the day. Attending an accordion competition gave him the „Kick zum Improvisieren“ [“the kick to improvise”]; playing from sheet music soon lost its appeal.
Education
1960s
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1960
The first guitar
Vienna
Pepl took up the guitar, at the age of 15 according to Kohler; in 1988 the Kleine Zeitung put it at 13. He learned mainly by listening to records, including those of Tal Farlow and Johnny Smith.
Education
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1960s
Wes Montgomery becomes a role model
Romania
On a holiday in Romania, a bar-band guitarist showed him chords and recommended Wes Montgomery. Pepl learned Montgomery's solos by listening and transcribing, not through lessons.
Education
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1963
Guitar studies with Karl Scheit
Vienna
Pepl studies classical guitar in Karl Scheit's class at the Vienna music academy; at the entrance examination he plays Mozart's “Turkish March” with a plectrum. The year 1963 is given in the obituary of the Kunstuniversität Graz (University of Music and Performing Arts Graz).
Education
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1964
First record release: “Skinny Minny / Olymp”
Vienna
With the dance and beat band The Austrian Evergreens, the single “Skinny Minny / Olymp” is released on the Rex Roval label, recorded live on the stage of the Albert-Sever-Saal in Vienna-Ottakring, Austria, the later Star Club Wien (Vienna youth club). On the A-side Hannes Patek sings his signature tune from the Star Club; for the B-side Pepl composes, in next to no time, the instrumental “Olymp”, a hard-rocking piece in the style of the Shadows’ “Apache”. It is the earliest composition by Pepl documented on record.
Recordings
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1966
The Austrian Evergreens
Europe
In the second half of the 1960s Pepl was the full-time guitarist of the dance and beat combo The Austrian Evergreens, whom the Kleine Zeitung calls “Austrian Aces”. The band played hits, Beatles numbers and bossa nova and toured Europe; Pepl arranged for them.
Ensembles
1970s
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1970
Studio musician in Vienna
Vienna
Pepl left the cover band during a tour to become a studio musician and briefly studied at the jazz department of the Vienna Conservatory. There he met Peter Ponger; through Ernst Kugler he found his way into the ORF (Austria's public broadcaster) studio.
Life
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1971
ORF Big Band and studio work
Vienna
In the 1970s Pepl played in the ORF Big Band (ORF: Austria's public broadcaster) under Ernst Kugler, Karel Krautgartner and Richard Österreicher and worked as a studio musician for, among others, Wilfried, Reinhold Bilgeri and Peter Alexander. In 1974 he was, after Peter Paul Skrepek, the band's first guitarist.
Ensembles
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1974
Conception M
Vienna
Pepl played in Albert Mair's group Conception M with Christof Lauer, Ack van Rooyen and Aladar Pege. No recording was released.
Ensembles
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27 March 1974
Pepl as guitarist at the Musikverein: “Missa Criolla” with the Arnold Schoenberg Chor
Vienna
In the Brahms Hall of the Vienna Musikverein, the Arnold Schoenberg Chor under Erwin Ortner performs Ariel Ramírez's “Missa Criolla” on Wednesday, 27 March 1974, as its Austrian premiere. Pepl plays guitar, alongside Fritz Ozmec (drums), Ewald Zimmermann (double bass) and Harald Neuwirth (harpsichord).
Concerts
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1975
The Jazzzwio begins with Werner Pirchner
Vienna
Pepl led the trio Hip Jargon and brought in the vibraphonist Werner Pirchner. At the first duo rehearsal, with “Stella by Starlight”, the Jazzzwio began, which lasted until 1985. The sources date the beginning between 1975 and 1978; Kohler's date is used here.
Ensembles
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1975 to 1979
Guest on Walter Richard Langer’s ORF TV series “Bourbon Street”
Vienna
In the ORF TV series “Bourbon Street” (35 episodes, 1975 to 1979), Walter Richard Langer presents jazz styles and musicians and invites guests into the studio for live performances, among them Barney Kessel, Albert Mangelsdorff, Art Farmer, Werner Pirchner and Harry Pepl. Pepl appears several times, also with the Jazzzwio.
Media
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1975
Harald Neuwirth Konsort and duo with Lee Konitz
Vienna
In the Konsort of the pianist Harald Neuwirth, Pepl played a duo with Lee Konitz at one concert, a formative moment for him; Hans Koller was listening.
Ensembles
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February 1975
Mumelter's Concertodrom
Innsbruck
The quintet of the violinist Martin Mumelter, with Max Engel, Werner Pirchner, Harry Pepl and Kurt Neuhauser, premiered at the Großer Stadtsaal in Innsbruck and then toured the British Isles, including the Edinburgh Festival.
Ensembles
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25 September 1975
Hip Jargon with Werner Pirchner at the Vienna Funkhaus
Vienna
On Thursday, 25 September 1975, Hip Jargon plays with Pepl (guitar), Wayne Darling (double bass) and Fritz Ozmec (drums) in the Great Broadcasting Hall of the Funkhaus in Vienna, Austria; the guest is Werner Pirchner on vibraphone. The recording from the ORF (Austria's public broadcaster) radio archive is broadcast on 5 June 2020 in Ö1’s (the ORF's cultural radio channel) “In Concert”, which calls Hip Jargon “the nucleus of the famous ‘Jazz-Zwio’”.
Concerts
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1976
Teaching assignment at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz (KUG)
Graz
The University of Music and Performing Arts Graz entrusts Pepl with leading the jazz guitar training class. Heckel, the information sheet and the Kleine Zeitung give 1976 as the start; Kohler speaks of an offer in 1976 and acceptance in 1977.
Teaching
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1976
ORF Big Band: “Leave Me”
Vienna
The ORF Big Band (ORF: Austria's public broadcaster) under Richard Österreicher recorded the LP “Leave Me” with Pepl as a soloist, featuring his piece “Salt and Pepl”.
Recordings
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1977
Farewell to the studio world
Graz
Pepl ended his contract with the ORF Big Band (ORF: Austria's public broadcaster), wanting to play only jazz from then on. Guido Jeszenszky began studying with him in Graz that year.
Life
-
1977
Premiere of Pirchner’s “Präludium und Fiasko”
Innsbruck, Tyrol
At the Kongresshaus Innsbruck (Tyrol, Austria), the Eisenbahnermusik Innsbruck under Florian Pedarnig gives the premiere of Werner Pirchner’s “Präludium und Fiasko” for wind band, vibraphone and guitar (PWV 9), with Pirchner on vibraphone and Pepl on guitar. An excerpt can be heard on the soundtrack of the Pirchner film “D.U.D.A!” (2014).
Concerts
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August 1977
Teaching post at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz (KUG)
Graz
On 10 August 1977 the Burgenländische Freiheit reported that Pepl was to leave the ORF Big Band (ORF: Austria's public broadcaster) and move to Graz, “where he is to take up a teaching post in the jazz department of the university of music”. The guitarist Olaf Weitzer was being discussed as his successor in the band. Pepl had last been heard with his jazz-rock group “Hedgehog” at the three-day festival in Kohfidisch.
Teaching
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1978
Trio Infernal and journey to New York
Vienna, New York
Around the end of the 1970s there was the Trio Infernal, with Adelhard Roidinger and Erich Bachträgl. With Peter Ponger, Pepl travelled to New York by ship, played sessions and met Marc Johnson.
Ensembles
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May 1979
Concert with Friedrich Gulda in Graz
Graz
For early May 1979 the Burgenländische Freiheit announced “a concert of superlatives” at the Münzgrabenheim in Graz: Friedrich Gulda on piano with the two former ORF Big Band (ORF: Austria's public broadcaster) musicians Wayne Darling (bass) and Harry Pepl (guitar).
Concerts
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July 1979
Recording of “Austria Drei”
Munich
The quartet Austria Drei, with Werner Pirchner, Adelhard Roidinger and Todd Canedy, recorded the album at FUN Studio in Munich; it was released on EGO in 1980. Herbert Joos painted the cover.
Recordings
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26 October 1979
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16 November 1979 to 24 November 1979
Tour with the Vienna Art Orchestra
Austria
Pepl played on the tour for the debut album “Tango from Obango” (Steyr, Linz, Dornbirn, Feldkirch, Vienna, Graz). The album was recorded on 22 and 23 November 1979.
Concerts
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1 December 1979 to 2 December 1979
Recording of “Gegenwind”
Bisamberg near Vienna
The Jazzzwio recorded the album “Gegenwind” in a small studio on the Bisamberg near Vienna. ECM (the renowned European jazz label) and ENJA (Munich jazz label) turned it down; Mood Records (Stuttgart-based jazz and rock label) took over the tape.
Recordings
1980s
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1980
Move to Hernstein
Hernstein
Around 1980 Pepl moved to Hernstein in Lower Austria, where he lived until his death and later ran his home studio. His piece “Hernstein 144” carries the address.
Life
-
1980
“Clown und Poet” on Bavarian Broadcasting (BR)
Munich
In the recording “Clown und Poet” from the BR series (BR: Bayerischer Rundfunk, Bavaria's public broadcaster) “Heut' abend”, the clown Oleg Popov meets the actor Klaus Maria Brandauer, who recites texts by Henry Miller, Peter Brook, William Shakespeare, Hermann Hesse, Ernst Jandl and Peter Altenberg. According to the closing credits, the music is played by Olaf Kübler, Robert (Bob) Degen, Günter Lenz, Joe Nay and Harry Pepl, Pepl on his old Gibson Les Paul.
Media
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23 March 1980 to 25 March 1980
Concerts with the Vienna Art Orchestra
Vienna, Zurich, Basel
With the Vienna Art Orchestra, Pepl played in Vienna (Jazzspring), Zurich and Basel; in June 1980 the “Concerto Piccolo” tour of Austria followed.
Concerts
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29 May 1980 to 30 May 1980
Recording of Runo Ericksson's Omnibus
Lindau, Switzerland
The album was recorded at Phonag Studio in Lindau (Switzerland) with Runo Ericksson, Charlie Mariano, Pepl, Werner Pirchner, Bruno Brandenberger and Marc Hellmann. It was released in 1981 on Four Leave Records.
Recordings
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September 1980
Jack DeJohnette sits in spontaneously at Saalfelden
Saalfelden
At the Jazzfestival Saalfelden (major jazz festival in the Salzburg region), Jack DeJohnette stepped onto the stage during a Jazzzwio performance and played along spontaneously.
Concerts
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7 November 1980 to 8 November 1980
Concerts with Benny Goodman in Berlin
Berlin
Pepl played two concerts at the Berlin Philharmonie with Benny Goodman, Don Haas, Peter Witte and Charly Antolini. At the rehearsal on 6 November, “Harry Pepl's Blues” came about spontaneously. The live recording was not released until 1996.
Concerts
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24 November 1980 to 28 November 1980
The String Summit in Baden-Baden
Baden-Baden, Mainz
At the New Jazz Meeting Baden-Baden under Joachim-Ernst Berendt, Pepl played in the duo “Hargang” with Wolfgang Dauner. The album “One World in Eight” was released in 1981 on MPS. Berendt announced the final concert in Mainz on Friday, 28 November 1980, with „noch nie gehörte Klänge“ [“never-before-heard sounds”]; the SWR lists the meeting in its chronology as the “String Meeting”.
Recordings
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1981
Rome: soundtrack “Fantasma d'Amore”
Rome
According to Kohler, Pepl recorded jazz versions of the main theme for Dino Risi's film in Rome with Benny Goodman, Peter Witte and Charly Antolini (music by Riz Ortolani).
Recordings
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March 1981
Recording of “The Loss”
Bisamberg near Vienna
The quintet with Leszek Zadlo, Pepl, Werner Pirchner, Wayne Darling and Brüning van Alten recorded at Schmetterling Sound Studios on the Bisamberg. The album was released in 1982 on Bellaphon; the band soon fell out.
Recordings
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12 July 1981
Jazzzwio at the Montreux Jazz Festival
Montreux
Pepl was called to the telephone in Graz during a lesson and agreed to appear at the guitar festival in Montreux, but as a duo with Pirchner. The concert on Sunday 12 July 1981 is regarded as the first big step in Pepl's international career. The live recording was released as an LP on WEA.
Concerts
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4 September 1981
Benny Goodman at the Tivoli, Copenhagen
Copenhagen
For a television show at the Jazzhus Slukefter, Pepl played with Goodman, Jimmy Maxwell, Svend Asmussen, Don Haas, Peter Witte and Charly Antolini. Goodman later sent him a photo with the dedication “for Harry, a great guitarist”. In 2006 the Porgy & Bess (Vienna jazz club) dated the concert film to 1980.
Concerts
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November 1981
Recording of “Schattseite”
Ludwigsburg
Adelhard Roidinger's album was recorded at Tonstudio Bauer in Ludwigsburg under Manfred Eicher (ECM 1221, 1982) and is named after the novel by Franz Innerhofer. Pepl plays guitar.
Recordings
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6 November 1981
Jazzfest Berlin
Berlin
The Jazzzwio played at the Metropol in Berlin. The first piece is called “Berlin '81, die Erste”.
Concerts
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1 April 1982
Austria Drei in Graz
Graz
Concert at the Studentenhaus Münzgraben with Michael Di Pasqua on drums, after which the trail of the band, as far as it can be reconstructed, goes cold.
Concerts
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May 1982
Jam session with Larry Coryell
Graz
Before his concert at the Münzl in Graz, the American guitarist Larry 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 Steirerkrone, greatly impressed him.
Teaching
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June 1982
ECM recording with Jack DeJohnette
Ludwigsburg
On a Sunday afternoon in June 1982 the Jazzzwio recorded for ECM with Jack DeJohnette at Tonstudio Bauer in Ludwigsburg; the producer was Manfred Eicher. Dave Holland had actually been scheduled but dropped out.
Recordings
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1 October 1982
Ars Electronica: “Jazz und Elektronik” (Jazz and Electronics)
Linz
At the Ars Electronica evening “Jazz und Elektronik” in the Great Hall of the Brucknerhaus in Linz, Pepl plays in the Ars Electronica Workshop Ensemble with François Jeanneau, Wolfgang Dauner, Jasper van't Hof, Adelhard Roidinger and Daniel Humair; Alphonse Mouzon's quartet also performs. The programme calls Pepl “one of the leading jazz guitarists in Europe”.
Concerts
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2 October 1982
German Jazz Festival Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main
Pepl and Pirchner played in the Großer Saal of the Alte Oper, including titles such as “Wiener essen Frankfurter”.
Concerts
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17 October 1982
Donaueschingen with the Vienna Art Orchestra
Donaueschingen
Pepl played in “Johnny tritt ab, No Jazz Opera in two parts” as part of the Donaueschingen Music Days (festival of contemporary music); the guest was John Surman. It is the last traceable collaboration with the Vienna Art Orchestra.
Concerts
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December 1982
Bratislava Jazz Days
Bratislava
At the PKO Hall in Bratislava, Pepl played the standard “St. Thomas” with the formation “The International Conclave”; the live recording was released in 1983 on the double LP “Bratislava Jazz Days 1982”.
Concerts
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1983
Air Mail finds its line-up
Vienna
After rehearsals with the bassist Jean-Paul Celea, the line-up of Pepl, Wolfgang Puschnig, Mike Richmond and Wolfgang Reisinger emerged in autumn 1983. The band took its name from the bassist Richmond, who was flown in.
Ensembles
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1 April 1983
ECM album with “Air, Love & Vitamins”
Munich
The album “Werner Pirchner / Harry Pepl / Jack DeJohnette” (ECM 1237, renowned European jazz label) was released and contains “Air, Love and Vitamines”, Pepl's best-known piece. Kohler and mica (Austria's music information centre) name the German Record Critics' Award (German award for outstanding recordings, chosen by a jury of critics), the Österreichisches Musiklexikon a nomination.
Recordings
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3 June 1983
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1984
Full professor at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz (KUG)
Graz
Pepl is appointed full professor of jazz guitar at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz; Die Steirische gives 1982. His students included Wolfgang Muthspiel, Peter Havlicek, Guido Jeszenszky and Martin Siewert.
Teaching
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22 January 1984
Pirchner, Pepl, Di Pasqua concert in Salzburg
Salzburg
The poster “Jazz im Theater” announces Werner Pirchner, Harry Pepl and Michael Di Pasqua on Sunday 22 January 1984, 8 pm, at the Elisabethbühne Salzburg; the archive of Salzburg’s Jazzit lists the evening in its concert history, with Pirchner on vibraphone and marimba.
Concerts
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25 March 1984
Jazzzwio in the Conservatory Hall, Innsbruck
Innsbruck
The Innsbruck live recording of Sunday 25 March 1984 forms the second part of the release “Live In Concerts”.
Concerts
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May 1984
Air Mail in Moers
Moers
Air Mail made their breakthrough at the Moers jazz festival (renowned festival for jazz and improvised music in North Rhine-Westphalia), with Karl “Bumi” Fian as guest. The debut “Prayer for Peace” was released in 1985 on Moers Music.
Concerts
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23 September 1984
Portal Unit at the Schlachthof in Graz
Graz
Pepl's first reconstructible concert with Michel Portal, George Lewis, Joachim Kühn, Jean-François Jenny-Clark and Daniel Humair. Festivals in France followed.
Concerts
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2 February 1985 to 4 February 1985
Recording of “Prayer for Peace”
Ludwigsburg
Air Mail recorded the debut album at Tonstudio Bauer in Ludwigsburg (Moers Music 02032, producer Burkhard Hennen) with Pepl, Puschnig, Richmond and Reisinger.
Recordings
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March 1985
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22 March 1985 to 23 March 1985
Théâtre de la Ville, Paris
Paris
The Michel Portal Unit played as a quintet with Portal, Pepl, Jenny-Clark, Humair and Mino Cinelu. Further concerts followed at the Centre Pompidou and at the Paris Museum of Modern Art.
Concerts
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30 March 1985
Air Mail at the Jazzspelunke
Vienna
On Saturday 30 March 1985 Air Mail, with Pepl, Wolfgang Puschnig, Mike Richmond and Wolfgang Reisinger, played at the Jazzspelunke in Vienna. A recording of this evening exists.
Concerts
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12 May 1985
Concert at the Miles Smiles club
Vienna
On the Sunday before the flight to New York, the Jazzzwio played at short notice at the Miles Smiles club in Vienna, with the drummer Georg Polansky. The live recording was released on CD in 2003.
Concerts
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15 May 1985
New York: “Beyond the Sound of Music”
New York
On Wednesday 15 May 1985, Pepl and Pirchner, with Don Moye, played at the Ohio Theater in Soho at the festival “New Austria / New York”. The New York Times reviewed the festival on 18 May.
Concerts
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July 1985
Jazzzwio with Don Moye in Bolzano
Bolzano
Concert by Werner Pirchner, Harry Pepl and Don Moye at the Walther-Haus in Bolzano.
Concerts
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10 October 1985 to 23 October 1985
Jazzzwio concerts in Graz and Kindberg
Graz, Kindberg
Kohler names 10 October 1985 in Graz and 23 October 1985 in Kindberg as the last verifiable concerts of the Jazzzwio. After that their paths parted, and Pirchner turned to composition. A live recording from Niš dated 28 October 1985 is chronologically later still.
Concerts
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28 October 1985
Naissus Jazz 85 in Niš
Niš
The Jazzzwio played live in the hall of the Niš Symphony Orchestra, Yugoslavia, together with Barry Altschul and Walter Schmocker. The piece “The Theme” was released in 1986 on a Diskos compilation.
Concerts
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1986
Michel Portal: recording of “Turbulence”
Paris
The recording was made in Paris at Studio S.E.I.; Pepl plays on “Pastor”. The album was released on Harmonia Mundi and was highly praised in France.
Recordings
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14 May 1986
Harry Pepl Quartet at the New Morning, Paris
Paris, France
On Wednesday, 14 May 1986, the “Harry Pepl quartet” plays at the Paris jazz club New Morning (France), with Wolfgang Puschnig (soprano saxophone), Mike Richmond (bass) and Wolfgang Reisinger (drums), i.e. the Air Mail line-up. Announced in the Paris concert paper “Tempo” of 15 April 1986.
Concerts
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24 May 1986
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October 1986
Enrico Rava and Dino Saluzzi: “Volver”
Ludwigsburg
In October 1986 the quintet recorded at Tonstudio Bauer in Ludwigsburg, followed by a three-month European tour. The album was released on 1 October 1987 on ECM (the renowned European jazz label); “Ballantine for Valentine” is Pepl's only piece on it.
Recordings
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10 October 1986
Rava/Saluzzi Quintet with the NDR Bigband
Hamburg
During the European tour, the quintet of Enrico Rava and Dino Saluzzi, with Harry Pepl, played together with the NDR Bigband (NDR: Norddeutscher Rundfunk, public broadcaster for northern Germany) at the Fabrik in Hamburg-Altona.
Concerts
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13 October 1986
Rava/Saluzzi Quintet at “Jazz in Gütersloh”
Gütersloh
Concert at “Jazz in Gütersloh”, with Bob Moses instead of Bruce Ditmas on drums.
Concerts
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February 1987
Recording of “Cracked Mirrors”
Wachau, Oslo
At the suggestion of Heimo Steps (gamsbART, Graz concert promoter), Pepl recorded with Herbert Joos in a studio in the Wachau; Jon Christensen added the drums afterwards in Oslo. gamsbART advanced the costs, and ECM (the renowned European jazz label) reimbursed them later.
Recordings
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30 May 1987
Michel Portal: “Men's Land” in Amiens
Amiens
Live recording at the 7th Festival International de Jazz d'Amiens with Portal, Dave Liebman, Pepl, Jenny-Clark, DeJohnette and Cinelu.
Recordings
-
8 July 1987 to 9 July 1987
Air Mail live at the Schlachthof Wels
Wels
The live recording for “Light Blues” was made on 8 and 9 July 1987, with Pepl, Puschnig, Richmond and Reisinger; Robert Riegler is the band's third bassist.
Recordings
-
March 1988
“Jazz und Stories” with Peter Turrini
Graz
At the ORF Studio Graz (ORF: Austria's public broadcaster), the pieces “Air, Love and Vitamines” and “Radlbremser” were recorded live and later released as bonus tracks on “Light Blues”.
Recordings
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20 April 1988
Cracked Mirrors live at the Posthof Linz
Linz
Concert of the trio Pepl, Joos and Christensen; Christensen was a guest of Pepl's in Hernstein for a considerable time and rehearsed with him.
Concerts
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22 April 1988
Trio Pepl/Joos/Christensen at the Hotel Mader, Katsdorf
Katsdorf
Two days after the concert at the Posthof in Linz, the trio with Herbert Joos and Jon Christensen played at the Hotel Mader in Katsdorf.
Concerts
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30 May 1988
“Cracked Mirrors” released on ECM
Munich
ECM 1356 (renowned European jazz label) was released as LP and CD. It is the first album on which Pepl makes distinctive use of the Roland MIDI guitar. It received the German Record Critics' Award (the Österreichisches Musiklexikon speaks of a nomination).
Recordings
-
December 1988
Joos, Pepl and Oxley at the Dieselstraße in Esslingen
Esslingen am Neckar
At the year-end concert of the series “Jazz in der Dieselstraße”, Pepl played with Herbert Joos and Tony Oxley at the Dieselstraße culture and communication centre in Esslingen; the Stuttgarter Zeitung and the Eßlinger Zeitung reviewed the concert.
Concerts
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10 December 1988 to 17 December 1988
Austrian tour with Herbert Joos and Tony Oxley
Austria
The tour schedule lists Mödling, Wörgl, Nüziders, Klagenfurt, Graz and Mauterndorf. Tony Oxley replaced Jon Christensen, who was unavailable; an ORF (Austria's public broadcaster) recording exists of the concert in Tamsweg on 15 December.
Concerts
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15 December 1988
Trio with Herbert Joos and Tony Oxley in Tamsweg
Tamsweg
On the Austrian tour, the ORF (Austria's public broadcaster) recorded the concert of Harry Pepl, Herbert Joos and Tony Oxley in Tamsweg; Ö1 (the ORF's cultural radio channel) broadcast the archive find in its Jazznacht in 2015.
Concerts
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1989
Cracked Mirrors at the Stadtgarten in Cologne
Cologne
The trio with Herbert Joos and Jon Christensen played at the Stadtgarten in Cologne (Cologne venue for jazz and new music), and television recorded the concert.
Concerts
-
20 January 1989
Ten works at ORF Studio Tyrol
Innsbruck
Ten works by Pepl were premiered at ORF Studio Tyrol (ORF: Austria's public broadcaster); the titles have not survived.
Works
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16 March 1989
“Ballade for Mr. Dinozo” at the Musikverein
Vienna
In the Brahmssaal, as part of the series “Freude an Musik”, the Ensemble Wien played Pepl's piece for strings, which is dedicated to Dino Saluzzi. The initiative came in 1988 from a telephone call by Josef Pitzek; Heckel, differing, names the Ensemble Kontrapunkte.
Works
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November 1989
Recording of “Schönberg Improvations”
Vienna
In nine days instead of six, the album was made at the Wiener Konzerthaus on the Bösendorfer (Vienna piano maker) computer grand piano 290 SE with Dave Liebman, Wolfgang Reisinger and Johannes Enders. Pepl played the piano tracks in via MIDI guitar.
Recordings
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14 December 1989
Premiere of “Grogos” in the Brahmssaal
Vienna
The commissioned work of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde, a computer composition for the string quartet medium, was premiered, according to the programme booklet, by the Ensemble Wien. Pepl had handed over the score in person in November; Heckel names the Ensemble Kontrapunkte and “String I” for this evening.
Works
1990s
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7 February 1990
Presentation concert for “Schönberg Improvations”
Vienna
At the Wiener Konzerthaus, Wolfgang Puschnig and Wolfgang Reisinger played live along with the self-playing grand piano; Pepl operated only the sustain pedal.
Concerts
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27 February 1990
Composer portrait at the Vienna Musikverein
Vienna
On Tuesday, 27 February 1990, the Ensemble Kontrapunkte under Peter Keuschnig devotes a composer portrait to Pepl in the Brahms Hall of the Vienna Musikverein, as part of an extraordinary society concert. Pepl plays guitar and a guitar-to-MIDI system; the piano sound comes from the Bösendorfer computer grand 290 SE. The soloists are Christine Whittlesey (soprano), Josef Pitzek (double bass) and Rainer Keuschnig (piano), with Wolf Peschl presenting. The programme comprises 15 pieces by Pepl: “Avo”, “Winds”, “The Last Bars of Mankind”, “Trio”, “String Nr. 1”, “Schikaneder Delight”, “Die letzte Bastion”, “Vibes Nr. 1” and “Vibes Nr. 2”, and after the interval “Einsicht ins mich”, “Brown Butterflies”, “Snow”, “Herbstzeitlose Arbeitslose”, “Grogos” and “Tintenfischinki”. According to the programme booklet most of the works were written „innerhalb der letzten Wochen“ [“within the last few weeks”]; “Schikaneder Delight” dates from 1988, and the Ensemble Wien had already premiered “Grogos” in December 1989. According to the booklet the ensemble includes Wolfgang Schulz (flute), Peter Schreiber (oboe), Siegfried Schenner (clarinet), Werner Krenn (bassoon), Erwin Sükar (horn), Rainer Küblböck (trumpet), Georg Sumpik (violin), Peter Pecha (viola) and Leonhard Wallisch (cello).
Works
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19 March 1990
“Pizzicat” at the Musikverein
Vienna
At the second Kontrapunkte concert of the year in the Brahms Hall, Pepl's “Pizzicat” is performed on Monday, 19 March 1990, between works by Blacher, Berio and Frank Martin; the performers are the Ensemble Kontrapunkte under Peter Keuschnig with Christine Whittlesey (soprano) and Josef Pitzek (double bass).
Works
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1991
Lower Austrian Culture Prize for Music
Lower Austria
In 1991 Pepl received the Recognition Prize of the state of Lower Austria in the music category (the state's culture prize). The tribute text from the culture prize brochure is now in the state's database of prizewinners.
Honours
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17 February 1991
Seven works at ORF Studio Tyrol
Innsbruck
Seven works by Pepl were premiered at ORF Studio Tyrol (ORF: Austria's public broadcaster), played by the pianist Thomas Larcher.
Works
-
3 December 1991
Kronos Quartet at the Orpheum in Graz
Graz
On Tuesday 3 December 1991, as part of the Steirischer Herbst (festival of contemporary art in Graz), the internationally renowned Kronos Quartet performed “Moving Navel”, “String Quartet No. 8” and “Obsession”. The concert was arranged by Heimo Steps of gamsbART (Graz concert promoter); the pieces were transcribed from Pepl's recordings. The earlier website gives 1990 for “Moving Navel”.
Works
-
11 March 1992
Premiere of “Anspannen, Überspannen, Abspannen”
Graz
STUDIO PERCUSSION graz performed the commissioned work for five percussionists with pre-recorded tape at the Orpheum Graz, alongside works by Armin Pokorn and Wolfgang Muthspiel. The CD was released in 1995.
Works
-
June 1992
Harry Pepl Quartet at the Knitting Factory
New York
In early June 1992, shortly before the recording of “N.Y.C. Impressure”, the quartet played at the Knitting Factory (New York music club for jazz and the avant-garde) in New York. The club's invitation gives 2 June, Nikolaus Kohler the day before the recording.
Concerts
-
4 June 1992 to 5 June 1992
Recording of “N.Y.C. IMPRESSURE”
New York
A few days after a concert at the Knitting Factory (New York music club for jazz and the avant-garde), the album was recorded in New York with Claus Stötter, Paul Nowinski and Jojo Mayer. In the liner notes Pepl speaks of his “Realtime-Composing”. The album was released in 1994 on Extraplatte (Vienna independent label); the dating varies between 1992 and 1994.
Recordings
-
December 1992
Cover of Jazzlive
Vienna
The Viennese jazz magazine Jazzlive shows Harry Pepl on the cover of its issue no. 99, photographed by the publisher Rainer Rygalyk; in the issue, Hannes Schweiger reports on the New York Knitting Factory (New York music club for jazz and the avant-garde) and Pepl's appearance there.
Media
-
1993
Last Air Mail concert in Raab
Raab, Upper Austria
At the Whitsun jazz festival in Raab, later known as INNtöne (jazz festival in Diersbach, Upper Austria), Air Mail played for the last time, with Jean-Paul Celea on bass and the piece “Dinozzo”. A professional recording exists.
Concerts
-
6 May 1993
Premiere of “Über Kurz oder Lang” by the Artis Quartet
Vienna
The string quartet in three movements was written in February 1993 and premiered on Thursday 6 May 1993 in the Brahmssaal of the Musikverein (historic concert hall of the Society of Friends of Music). The ORF (Austria's public broadcaster) recorded the concert; a quiet passage is accompanied by a thunderstorm.
Works
-
1994
“Beginnings” with Abstract Truth and a personal showcase at the Porgy & Bess
Vienna, New York
Pepl recorded the album “Beginnings” with Paul Zauner, John Purcell, Kenny Davis and Ronnie Burrage (Amadeo, former Vienna label for jazz and classical music, PAO Records (label of the trombonist and INNtöne festival founder Paul Zauner)). In the same year he had a three-day personal showcase at the Porgy & Bess (Vienna jazz club) in Vienna; on one of the evenings he played with Wolfgang Mitterer, according to Mitterer's chronology also with Gene Jackson.
Recordings
-
1994
Concerts with Labarrière, Jackson and Mitterer
Kyiv, Graz, Vienna
Harry Pepl plays one of his last concert series with Hélène Labarrière (double bass), Gene Jackson (drums) and Wolfgang Mitterer (synthesizer), among other places in Kyiv (Ukraine), there according to Mitterer also with Paul Zauner, probably in Slovakia, in Graz with Wolfgang Puschnig and at Porgy & Bess (Vienna jazz club) in Vienna. No recording has survived.
Concerts
-
May 1994
CD recording for STUDIO PERCUSSION graz
Straßengel near Graz
At the OPUS studio in Straßengel near Graz, STUDIO PERCUSSION graz recorded the three works by Pepl, Muthspiel and Pokorn (Extraplatte (Vienna independent label) EX 242-2).
Recordings
-
1995
End of teaching at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz (KUG)
Graz
Teaching at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz ended in 1995 according to Heckel, the Musikergilde, Jazz thing and nmz; the information sheet and Kohler give 1994.
Teaching
-
1995
Home studio in Hernstein: the Lonely Single Swinger Band
Hernstein
From the mid-1990s Pepl recorded a large number of multitrack recordings in his home studio in the cellar in Hernstein, the “Bergwerk”, and catalogued and rated them. He played all the instruments himself and called the project “Lonely Single Swinger Band”; the earlier website gives 1996 as the start.
Ensembles
-
November 1995
Piano album “Consequence”
Vienna
In November 1995, twelve freely improvised piano pieces were recorded at the Bösendorfer (Vienna piano maker) factory in Vienna. The album remained unreleased during his lifetime and was released on 15 May 2020.
Recordings
-
1996
Withdrawal from the stage
Hernstein
From the mid-1990s Pepl withdraws completely from the stage for health reasons; the earlier website gives 1996. He continues to produce in his home studio in Hernstein. Peter Paul Skrepek records his words: „Jetzt, wo ich alles spielen kann, was ich will, darf ich nicht mehr.“ [“Now that I can play everything I want, I’m no longer allowed to.”]
Life
-
10 March 1996
Piano album “Flow”
Vienna
Twelve real-time compositions were recorded in a single take on the Steinway in the Brahmssaal of the Vienna Musikverein (PAO Records, label of the trombonist and INNtöne festival founder Paul Zauner). It is the last album he oversaw in his lifetime.
Recordings
-
October 1997
INNtöne Festival with Michel Portal
Raab, Upper Austria
In autumn 1997 Pepl played at the festival in Raab with Michel Portal, Wolfgang Reisinger, Franz Hackl and Toninho Horta. According to Daniel Pepl it was his last live concert.
Concerts
-
1998
-
April 1998
Interview in Concerto
Vienna
In the interview „Man könnte Klavierspielen müssen“ [“One might have to play the piano”] in the magazine Concerto (no. 2/1998), Pepl talks about his work, Benny Goodman, ECM (the renowned European jazz label) and the piano. The file name in the archive wrongly gives 1996.
Media
-
1999
“Frischwärts” and the Christmas CD
Hernstein
In his cellar studio Pepl recorded “Frischwärts” in four tracks (MIDI guitar with a cowbell sample, drums, electric guitar, acoustic guitar) and burned the “Weihnachts-CD 1999, Vol. 1” with ten titles, including “Fugendichtung”.
Recordings
2000s
-
1 April 2000
Premiere of “Zeitraffer”
Klosterneuburg
At the concert “Einkreisung” on Saturday, 1 April 2000, 7.30 pm, at the Schömer-Haus in Klosterneuburg (music series of the Essl Collection, artistic direction Karlheinz Essl), STUDIO PERCUSSION graz under Günter Meinhart gives the premiere of “Zeitraffer” for percussion ensemble and tape, between Iannis Xenakis' “Perséphassa” and Adriana Hölszky's “Jagt die Wölfe zurück”. The six percussionists stand in an ellipse around the audience. According to Heckel the composer was not present. In his programme note Pepl writes: „Ich bin Kind unsrer Zeit: Zeitraffer ist auch meine Devise.“ [“I am a child of our time: time-lapse is my motto too.”] Real-time composing, his working method, he calls „totale Improvisation im Sog der Geschwindigkeit des Augenblicks“ [“total improvisation in the pull of the speed of the moment”].
Works
-
2001
“Light Blues” reissued
Vienna
The CD “Light Blues” by Air Mail was reissued in the series Austrian Jazzart on Universal/EmArcy with two bonus tracks.
Recordings
-
August 2001
Death of Werner Pirchner
The vibraphonist and composer Werner Pirchner, Pepl's partner in the Jazzzwio, died in August 2001.
Life
-
2002
Muthspiel & Muthspiel play Pepl and Pirchner
Austria
In 2001/02 the brothers Wolfgang Muthspiel and Christian Muthspiel tour Austria with the programme “Muthspiel & Muthspiel play Pepl-Pirchner”, including the treibhaus Innsbruck (Tyrol). It is their tribute to the Jazzzwio and to Werner Pirchner, who died in 2001, and their first engagement with composed material. „Wir werden die Musik in unsere Sprache zu übersetzen versuchen“ [“We will try to translate the music into our own language”], says Wolfgang Muthspiel. Besides pieces from the three Jazzzwio LPs, unreleased material and their own compositions inspired by Pirchner and Pepl are planned.
Concerts
-
24 November 2002 to 1 December 2002
Muthspiel & Muthspiel play Pepl and Pirchner
Austria
In 2001/02 the brothers Wolfgang Muthspiel and Christian Muthspiel tour Austria with the programme “Muthspiel & Muthspiel play Pepl-Pirchner”, including the treibhaus Innsbruck (Tyrol). It is their tribute to the Jazzzwio and to Werner Pirchner, who died in 2001, and their first engagement with composed material. „Wir werden die Musik in unsere Sprache zu übersetzen versuchen“ [“We will try to translate the music into our own language”], says Wolfgang Muthspiel. Besides pieces from the three Jazzzwio LPs, unreleased material and their own compositions inspired by Pirchner and Pepl are planned. According to the Edition Werner Pirchner calendar, the tour ran from 24 November to 1 December 2002 to Oberwart, Vienna (Porgy & Bess), Hallein, Wels, Hall in Tirol, Dornbirn and Deutschlandsberg; further concerts followed from 2003 to 2006, including at the Treibhaus Innsbruck and the Glass Hall of the Vienna Musikverein (2005).
Concerts
-
2003
Two Goodman and Jazzzwio releases
Vienna
In 2003 the concert recording “Live at Miles Smiles” was released in the series Austrian Jazzart, along with the CD/DVD “Farewell” with Benny Goodman, recorded at the Tivoli (amusement park and concert venue) in Copenhagen.
Recordings
-
2004
Salzburger Jazzherbst
Salzburg
Lorenz Raab, Wolfgang Schiftner and Clemens Salesny played live to Pepl's recordings in front of photos by Rainer Rygalyk. There is no live recording, because Pepl rejected an unpaid ORF (Austria's public broadcaster) broadcast.
Concerts
-
2004
Wolfgang Muthspiel: “Air, Love & Vitamins”
Pepl's student Wolfgang Muthspiel released an album on Quinton Records with Marc Johnson and Brian Blade, with Pepl's composition as the title piece. The “Schönberg Improvations” were reissued in the same year on Universal/EmArcy.
Recordings
-
5 August 2004 to 8 August 2004
Creation of “Dedicated to Michel Noiret's Stockhausen”
Hernstein
Between 5 and 8 August 2004 Pepl recorded the piece, inspired by an ARTE film about the dancer Michèle Noiret, with drums, a double bass sample and electric guitar. It was not released until 2020, on “Volume One”.
Recordings
-
17 September 2004
“Habanero-Slide-Show” at the Blue Tomato, Vienna
Vienna
First performance of music by the Lonely Single Swinger Band with live musicians and photos by Rainer Rygalyk. Pepl was present at the concerts.
Concerts
-
10 September 2005
60th birthday
A few months before his death, Pepl celebrated his 60th birthday and, according to Rainer Rygalyk, still had much planned.
Life
-
5 December 2005
Death of Harry Pepl
Wiener Neustadt
Harry Pepl died on Monday 5 December 2005, aged 60, in Wiener Neustadt. Several obituaries give Vienna as the place of death; Jazz thing gives 6 December.
Life
-
September 2006
Nikolaus Kohler's diploma thesis
Vienna
At the University of Vienna, Nikolaus Kohler submitted the first detailed academic study of Pepl, supervised by Regine Allgayer-Kaufmann.
Media
-
18 November 2006
First Harry Pepl Prize awarded in Graz
Graz
At the 14th Austrian Soundcheck (festival in Graz) at the Studentenhaus Münzgraben, the Jazzkartell Graz (gamsbART, Graz concert promoter) awarded the Harry Pepl Prize for the first time, for musicians under 30, a scholarship of 5,000 euros from the City of Graz. The Kleine Zeitung gives 17 November as the date. Heckel dates the founding of the prize to 2009, which contemporary sources refute. The first winner is the saxophonist Wolfgang Schiftner, co-founder of the JazzWerkstatt Wien.
Honours
-
6 December 2006
“A Tribute to Harry Pepl” at the Porgy & Bess
Vienna
On Wednesday 6 December 2006, Lorenz Raab and Raphael Preuschl, the Andy Manndorff Trio, the Koehne Quartet and Peter Ponger played at the Porgy & Bess (Vienna jazz club) in Vienna. The concert films of Goodman 1980 and of the Jazzzwio in Montreux 1981 were shown; the proceeds went to the estate administration.
Honours
-
2007
Christian Muthspiel: “Against the Wind”
Christian Muthspiel released a tribute album with the music of Werner Pirchner and Harry Pepl on Universal/EmArcy.
Recordings
-
13 March 2007
Deutschlandfunk “Milestones”
The Deutschlandfunk (Germany's national public radio station) broadcast the series “Milestones, Klassiker der Jazzgeschichte” on Harry Pepl in its late-night radio programme, with Montreux 81, the ECM (the renowned European jazz label) trio and Air Mail.
Media
-
July 2007 to November 2008
Daniel Pepl prepares the Jazzzwio release
Vienna
Between summer 2007 and autumn 2008, Daniel Pepl mastered and edited the recordings from Montreux and Innsbruck for release in January 2009. He was supported by Heimo Steps, Gerhard Kosel and Universal Music.
Estate
-
17 November 2008
18th Austrian Soundcheck: award ceremony and CD/DVD presentation
Graz
On Monday 17 November 2008, the CD and DVD “Pepl/Pirchner Jazzzwio live in Montreux und Innsbruck” were presented in Graz and the Harry Pepl Prize was awarded. The winner is the trombonist and composer Daniel Riegler, leader of the ensemble Studio Dan and co-founder of the JazzWerkstatt Wien.
Honours
-
January 2009
“Live In Concerts” released
Vienna
The 1981 Montreux live recording, together with the 1984 Innsbruck recording and video, was released on Universal/EmArcy as CD and DVD. It was reviewed by Kurier, Kronen Zeitung and Concerto.
Recordings
-
20 February 2009
Wolfgang Schalk dedicates “And Harry Said Goodbye” to Pepl
Los Angeles
On his album “Wanted” (Frame Up Music), recorded in Los Angeles, USA, with Geoffrey Keezer and Marvin “Smitty” Smith, the Styrian guitarist Wolfgang Schalk dedicates the piece “And Harry Said Goodbye” to Pepl. On Friday, 20 February 2009, Die Presse singles it out as particularly beautiful. Schalk’s Graz teacher Franz J. Posch had once drawn his attention to Pepl.
Media
2010s
-
2010
Harry Pepl Prize for Stefan Heckel
Graz
At the Austrian Soundcheck (festival in Graz) run by the promoter gamsbART in Graz, Austria, the Styrian pianist and accordionist Stefan Heckel receives the Harry Pepl Prize. In 2024 Heckel completed a dissertation on Pepl's late work at the mdw (University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna).
Honours
-
11 June 2010
Robert Riegler and Primus Sitter: “Air, Love & Vitamines”
Ried im Innkreis, Upper Austria
The bassist Robert Riegler and the guitarist Primus Sitter play their duo programme “Air, Love & Vitamines” at the KIK in Ried im Innkreis (Upper Austria, Austria), with compositions by Harry Pepl, Werner Pirchner, Robert Riegler, Rebekka Bakken, Primus Sitter and Sting.
Concerts
-
22 November 2013
Harry Pepl Prize for Clemens Salesny
Graz
On Friday 22 November 2013 the alto saxophonist Clemens Salesny receives the Harry Pepl Prize at the Austrian Soundcheck (festival in Graz) in Graz, Austria; according to Ö1 (the ORF's cultural radio channel) and mica (Austria's music information centre) it is already the fourth presentation. The evening at the Dom im Berg is billed as “Super Sax”; Salesny plays there in a trio with Martin Bayer and Peter Primus Frosch. In 2015 he records with both of them and Agnes Heginger the double CD for the tenth anniversary of Pepl's death, playing along to his original tracks.
Honours
-
23 December 2013
Jazzzwio Legner-Rofner plays Pepl and Pirchner
Absam, Tyrol
On Monday, 23 December 2013, the vibraphonist Matthias Legner and the bassist Clemens Rofner, as “Jazzzwio Legner-Rofner”, play selected compositions by Harry Pepl and Werner Pirchner at the Gemeindemuseum Absam (Tyrol, Austria), almost 30 years after the Jazzzwio. According to the announcement, the evening is meant to „die leider oft übersehenen Pepl-Pirchner-Jazztunes zeitgemäß in Erinnerung rufen“ [“bring the sadly often overlooked Pepl-Pirchner jazz tunes back to mind in a contemporary way”]. The announcement quotes Heimo Steps on the Jazzzwio.
Concerts
-
2014
“Olymp” on “Schnitzelbeat Volume 1”
Pepl's composition “Olymp” from 1964 was reissued on the compilation of Austrian rock ’n’ roll and beat rarities.
Recordings
-
19 September 2015
Ö1 Jazznacht “Erinnerungen an Harry Pepl”
Vienna
On the occasion of his 70th birthday, Christian Bakonyi presented the Ö1 (the ORF's cultural radio channel) Jazznacht on Saturday 19 September 2015, with Daniel Pepl, Agnes Heginger and Clemens Salesny in the studio. An archive find of the trio with Herbert Joos and Tony Oxley from Tamsweg was also played.
Media
-
26 October 2015
Ö1 honours Pepl on the National Day
Vienna
For the Austrian National Day, Ö1 (ORF’s cultural radio station) broadcasts the portrait „Heimat bis Du großer...“ in its “Spielräume” series, produced by Klaus Wienerroither. The title alludes to the national anthem: “In this case it really is one of the sons.” The programme spans Air Mail and the Jazzzwio, Benny Goodman and the ORF Big Band through to “Air, Love & Vitamins”.
Media
-
November 2015
Harry Pepl Prize for Viola Falb
Graz
At the opening of the Austrian Soundcheck (festival in Graz) in Graz, Austria, the saxophonist and composer Viola Falb receives the fifth Harry Pepl Prize. The Falter reports the award on 18 November 2015 and names prize money of 5,000 euros; mica (Austria's music information centre) and Wikipedia date the prize to 2016. No later presentation is documented; Stefan Heckel dates the series up to 2015.
Honours
-
5 December 2015
Double CD for the 10th anniversary of his death
Vienna
On the initiative of Daniel Pepl, the double CD “Harry Pepl & Clemens Salesny / Martin Bayer / Peter Primus Frosch / Agnes Heginger” was released on Fullmax Recordings: Pepl's home-studio tracks, supplemented by live-recorded instruments. It was presented on Saturday 5 December 2015 at the Porgy & Bess (for the 10th anniversary of his death, in the year of his 70th birthday).
Estate
-
2016
“The Balsam Project” on “Faces And Stories”
On Wolfgang Puschnig's compilation, the duo with Pepl from the 1988 album “Pieces Of The Dream” was reissued.
Recordings
-
14 May 2016
INNtöne Jazz Festival 2016
Diersbach
Harry Pepl (tape) with Clemens Salesny, Martin Bayer, Peter Primus Frosch and Agnes Heginger played on Saturday, 14 May 2016, at the INNtöne Jazz Festival in Diersbach (Upper Austria, Austria). The four interpret Pepl’s pieces, improvise on them and respond to his recordings from his home studio, the programme of the 2015 double CD. Der Standard announced the concert as a „formidables Beispiel“ [“formidable example”] of an engagement with history that can „delikate Ergebnisse zeitigen“ [“yield delicate results”].
Concerts
-
10 June 2016
“Pepl Reloaded” at the Bruckner University Linz
Linz
At the Anton Bruckner Private University in Linz, Austria, the “Harry Pepl Working Band” led by the singer and lecturer Agnes Heginger performs the evening “Pepl Reloaded”: students play Pepl’s compositions and improvise to his home-studio recordings of the Lonely Single Swinger Band, with Pepl heard on tape. The musicians include Stefan Bogensberger and Quang Huy Michael Vu (piano), Tao Deva Stingl (violin), Tobias Pöcksteiner (double bass), Michael Naphegyi and Raphael Schuster (drums), Lothar Beyschlag (trumpet), Klaus Trappl and Victoria Pfeil (saxophone), Sarah Koell (vocals) and Hasan Ibrahim (bouzouki).
Concerts
-
26 June 2017
“Pepl meets ProgRock” at Porgy & Bess
Porgy & Bess, Vienna
The singer and lecturer Agnes Heginger brings two ensembles of the Anton Bruckner Private University Linz to Porgy & Bess: a tribute to Harry Pepl with “Pepl Reloaded”, „wilder und freier österreichischer Jazz mit und inspiriert von Harry Pepl“ [“wild and free Austrian jazz with and inspired by Harry Pepl”], plus progressive rock by Yes, King Crimson and Genesis.
Concerts
-
27 October 2017
Gerald Gradwohl Group pays tribute to Pepl in Passau
Passau
The Passauer Neue Presse reported on Friday 27 October 2017 that the Gerald Gradwohl Group pays tribute to the late Viennese jazz guitarist, whom Gradwohl admires and from whom he has learned.
Honours
-
2018
New formation “Harry Pepl & The (Lonely) Single Swinger Band”
Austria
Clemens Salesny and Martin Bayer, with Andi Schreiber on violin and Valentin Duit on drums, played a series of concerts with Pepl's material. Pepl's tracks came from their own stage amplifiers; Markus Wallner looked after the sound.
Ensembles
-
12 November 2018
Premiere of the Single Swinger Band at Porgy & Bess
Vienna
To open the concert series, Clemens Salesny, Martin Bayer, Andi Schreiber and Valentin Duit play with Pepl's tracks on Monday, 12 November 2018, at Porgy & Bess in Vienna, Austria; Markus Wallner handles sound and playback.
Concerts
-
13 November 2018
Single Swinger Band at Tube's in Graz
Graz
On Tuesday, 13 November 2018, the quartet plays with Pepl's tracks at Tube's in Graz, Austria.
Concerts
-
15 November 2018
Single Swinger Band at the Brauhaus Breznik, Bleiburg
Bleiburg
On Thursday, 15 November 2018, the quartet plays with Pepl's tracks at the Brauhaus Breznik in Bleiburg, Carinthia, Austria.
Concerts
-
16 November 2018
Single Swinger Band at the Jazzit Salzburg
Salzburg
Under the title “A Tribute To Harry Pepl (tape) & The (Lonely) Single Swinger Band”, Clemens Salesny, Martin Bayer, Andi Schreiber and Valentin Duit play with Pepl’s tracks on Friday, 16 November 2018, at the Jazzit in Salzburg, Austria; Markus Wallner is on sound.
Concerts
-
22 February 2019
Digital EP “Lonely Single Swinger Band (Art of Trio, Vol. 1)”
Vienna
The first release from the musical estate on Fullmax Recordings since 2015: four newly mixed pieces that Pepl recorded alone in his home studio.
Estate
-
25 October 2019 to 26 June 2021
Live recordings for the album “Live”
Vienna, Villach
The band recorded concerts at the Porgy & Bess (25 October 2019, July 2020), at the Blue Tomato (24 October 2020) and at the Bambergsaal Villach (26 June 2021). In August 2020 Franz Hautzinger played the trumpet on “Kunst II” in his home studio in France.
Recordings
-
25 October 2019
Single Swinger Band at the Porgy & Bess
Porgy & Bess, Vienna
Concert by Harry Pepl (tape) & The (Lonely) Single Swinger Band at the Porgy & Bess (Vienna jazz club); recordings from it were released in 2025 on the album “Live”.
Concerts
2020s
-
15 May 2020 to 10 June 2020
Digital releases from the estate on Fullmax Recordings
Vienna
In May and June 2020 the following were released digitally: “Consequence” (15 May), the double CD from 2015 (18 May), “Harry Pepl's Lonely Single Swinger Band (Volume One)” (20 May) and “N.Y.C. IMPRESSURE” (10 June).
Estate
-
15 July 2020
Single Swinger Band at the Porgy & Bess
Porgy & Bess, Vienna
Concert by Harry Pepl (tape) & The (Lonely) Single Swinger Band at the Porgy & Bess (Vienna jazz club); recordings from it were released in 2025 on the album “Live”.
Concerts
-
25 September 2020
Ö1 “Spielräume Special” about Harry Pepl
Vienna
For the Ö1 (the ORF's cultural radio channel) programme, Daniel Pepl compiled a chronological list of listening examples with commentary. The date is taken from the file name of the list.
Media
-
24 October 2020
Single Swinger Band at the Blue Tomato
Blue Tomato, Vienna
Concert by Harry Pepl (tape) & The (Lonely) Single Swinger Band at the Blue Tomato in Vienna; recordings from it were released in 2025 on the album “Live”.
Concerts
-
26 June 2021
Single Swinger Band at the Bambergsaal Villach
Bambergsaal, Villach
Concert by Harry Pepl (tape) & The (Lonely) Single Swinger Band at the Bambergsaal in Villach; recordings from it were released in 2025 on the album “Live”.
Concerts
-
31 July 2021
Festival de Chaillol: the Tortiller and Fitzgerald-Michel duo plays Pepl
Rambaud, Hautes-Alpes, France
At the 25th Festival de Chaillol in the Hautes-Alpes (France), the duo Franck Tortiller (vibraphone) and Misja Fitzgerald-Michel (guitar) play, on Saturday, 31 July 2021, to a full house, a piece by Harry Pepl alongside their own pieces and Monk’s “Bemsha Swing”, reports Le Dauphiné Libéré.
Concerts
-
25 September 2021
Les Arches en Jazz: Tortiller and Fitzgerald-Michel play “Air, Love and Vitamins”
Port-Bail-sur-Mer, Normandy, France
At the first “Les Arches en Jazz” festival in Port-Bail-sur-Mer (Cotentin, Normandy, France), the duo Franck Tortiller and Misja Fitzgerald-Michel play Pepl’s “Air, Love and Vitamins” on Saturday, 25 September 2021, at noon in the church of Notre-Dame; according to Citizen Jazz, a “gentle ballad” that leads into “a languorous meditation”.
Concerts
-
30 September 2023
Concert in Syrnau
Syrnau
The band played on Saturday 30 September 2023 at 8.15 pm at the sparkasse.event.raum in Syrnau near Zwettl.
Concerts
-
7 June 2024
“Live At H15 Studio” by the Kresten Osgood Quintet
Copenhagen
On the LP, featuring a live recording from the Copenhagen Jazz Festival 2023, the quintet plays Pepl's “The Halley's Comet Light Blue Blues”.
Recordings
-
July 2024
Stefan Heckel's dissertation “Instant Composing”
Vienna
Stefan Heckel submitted his dissertation on Pepl's late work at the mdw (University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna) in Vienna, Austria, supervised by Harald Huber.
Media
-
2025
The Kahr and Harms duo plays Pepl
Vienna
In the duo project “Jazz & the City (…and me)”, the pianist and jazz researcher Michael Kahr and the saxophonist Martin Harms interpret repertoire associated with musicians of Viennese jazz, among them Erich Kleinschuster, Vera Auer, Fritz Pauer and Harry Pepl. In 2025 the duo performs at the Kultursommer Wien and records for Ö1 (the ORF's cultural radio channel).
Concerts
-
11 June 2025
Jazz-Zwio 2.0 at the Treibhaus Innsbruck
Innsbruck, Tyrol
For Werner Pirchner’s 85th birthday, Matthias Legner (vibraphone) and Clemens Rofner (bass) play as “Jazz-Zwio 2.0” at the Treibhaus Innsbruck (Tyrol, Austria), twelve years after their first programme of Jazzzwio pieces.
Concerts
-
22 August 2025
Album “Harry Pepl (tape) & The (Lonely) Single Swinger Band: Live”
Vienna
The album was released digitally on Friday 22 August 2025 on Fullmax Recordings (distributed by Hoanzl); the distributor lists the CD with the date 26 September 2025. It contains concert recordings of the band playing to Pepl's original tracks.
Estate
-
6 September 2025
Ö1 Jazznacht for the 80th birthday
Vienna
Christian Bakonyi presented the Ö1 (the ORF's cultural radio channel) Jazznacht for the 80th birthday on Saturday 6 September 2025, with Daniel Pepl, Clemens Salesny and Martin Bayer.
Media
-
10 September 2025
80th birthday
Pepl would have turned 80 on Wednesday 10 September 2025. The press text for the album is titled “Harry Pepl 80”.
Life
-
28 September 2025
Concert at the Porgy & Bess
Vienna
The band, with Salesny, Bayer, Schreiber, Duit and Markus Wallner on sound, played at the Porgy & Bess (Vienna jazz club) in Vienna on Sunday 28 September 2025, also as a stream.
Concerts
-
26 November 2025
Austrian Jazz Award: 2nd place for “Live”
Velden
At the Austrian Jazz Award 2025 (award for jazz from Austria) at Casino Velden on Wednesday 26 November 2025, the album took 2nd place in the Best Album category, behind the Kenji Herbert Trio and ahead of the Tobias Meissl Trio.
Honours
-
December 2025
Single Swinger Band in the Open Music series at the Stockwerk in Graz
Stockwerk, Graz
Concert by Harry Pepl (tape) & The (Lonely) Single Swinger Band in the Open Music series at the Stockwerk in Graz; the Kleine Zeitung and the Kronen Zeitung reported on 18 December 2025.
Concerts
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18 December 2025
Press reports on the concert at the Stockwerk in Graz
Graz
On Thursday 18 December 2025 the Kleine Zeitung and the Kronen Zeitung reported on the Open Music evening at the Stockwerk in Graz, with Salesny, Bayer, Schreiber, Duit and Markus Wallner. The concert date is not stated in the text.
Media