Rudi Wilfer

Rudi Wilfer ( born 14 September 1936 in Salzburg) is an Austrian pianist and composer.

Life

At the Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna, he studied trumpet and piano, on which he finally concentrated. This was followed by studies of the composition and set theory at the Vienna Conservatory.

He played in the ensembles of Uzzi Förster, Fatty George, Erich Kleinschuster, Clifford Jordan and Friedrich Gulda, with whom he formed a lifelong friendship.

Rudi Wilfer began his musical career in Vienna in the fifties in the Ban of the clarinetist Fatty George as the successor of the pianist Joe Zawinul when he went to New York to his career in the U.S. build. Then Desse Jazz Club " Fatty's Saloon" also visited the stars of the international jazz scene.

In the sixties, followed the establishment of the " Rudi Wilfer Trio ": It created numerous record productions, including many original compositions, with the Austrian Broadcasting, which were also often played in the fledgling program of Ö3.

Among the highlights of his career include the one hand, Rudi Wilfers membership in the Leo Wright and Carmell Jones Quintet in Berlin in 1970, as well as his work as a companion international jazz greats such as Slide Hampton (trombone), Billy Mitchell, Harold Jones (drums), Art Farmer (trumpet ) and others. Also, Oliver Nelson ( Arranger and saxophonist ) took Rudi Wilfer in his " Berlin Dream Band ".

In 1973 Rudi Wilfer won the first prize at the International Jazz Competition themes " Concours international de composition de theme de jazz " of Monaco with his friend Joe Zawinul composition dedicated to "For Joe". It was followed by other radio and television productions and international tours with arrivierten U.S. - jazz greats such as the tenor saxophonist Bud Freeman and Eddie Lockjaw Davis. On his first visit to the USA in 1979, he also met the pianist Bill Evans, whom he admired.

1981 Rudi Wilfer came with his first major religious composition to the public, the " St. St. Michael's Mass", which was premiered under the direction of Erwin Ortner with the Arnold Schoenberg Choir and the Radio Orchestra in the Vienna Don Bosco Church. In 1982 the premiere of the organ concerto " stalactites " in St. Augustine in Vienna. In 1983 his composition was " singing for peace " premiered at the Salzburg Festival Hall. A year later, in 1984, he began composing the opera " Christian ". The world premiere of another great work, the " Lungauer Blues show," Rudi Wilfer led the 3rd Salzburg Jazz Autumn 1998 in Collegiate Church itself the occasion of the death of Joe Zawinul Wilfer composed this in honor of the "Requiem for Joe Zawinul " which premiered in 2009 been.

1982 Rudi Wilfer professor of jazz piano and improvisation at the Vienna Conservatory.

Rudi Wilfer has performed in Austria the American trumpeter Lee Harper, guitarist Harry Stojka and Karl Ratzer, the Hungarian virtuoso bass Aladar Aladar and saxophonist Carl Drewo, with whom he also grossed numerous albums.

2007 played Rudi Wilfer his CD " Solo " a. Since the 2000s, he frequently performs with his son, the violinist Felix Wilfer. So in 2010 in the United States. For this chamber music ensemble, in the next few years, numerous compositions. 2013, the CD " Wilfer & Wilfer live in the Odeion " was recorded.

Honors

For his contribution to the arts, he was honored on 17 September 2001 with the Golden Cross of Merit of the State of Salzburg. In 2008 he was awarded the Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art.

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