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Wolfgang Schalk

“Wolfgang Schalk is a guitarist’s guitarist... No matter how frenetic or soothing his playing may become, Schalk always plays with a master improviser’s sense of quest.” - DownBeat

“For some time now Wolfgang Schalk has shown that he is one of the brightest stars in the jazz guitar firmament. On his new release, he turns up the wattage and delivers his strongest CD to date and one of the best jazz releases this year.” - Tom Evered, fmr GM & SVP, Blue Note Records

Hailed by critics in the US and Europe as “one of the best jazz guitarists”, Wolfgang Schalk delivers hard swinging and emotive compositions in the vein of the patriarchal jazz guitarist lineage while highlighting his membership in the elite club of today’s creative voices. The music is driven by Wolfgang’s distinctive sound and edgy conception, demonstrating his virtuosity on both, arch top and on nylon string acoustic guitar. 
 Recalling the sounds of esteemed fret-board masters Wes Montgomery, Pat Martino, John Scofield, John McLaughlin and Pat Metheny, Schalk expands on the tradition by playing dynamic music expressing thoughtfulness and original artistic abilities as one of the most talented guitarists of his generation.


”Obsession” features ten original pieces written by Wolfgang, his eighth album as a leader. The music is driven by Wolfgang’s distinctive sound and edgy conception, demonstrating his virtuosity on both, arch top and on nylon string acoustic guitar.

“Obsession is my tribute to the dedication to music and art. It is also a mantra for the responsibility which comes attached to it. It is something you have in your veins and something that is always with you, no matter what you are doing. And the process itself is about the creating because it needs to be done. It is not about what the result will be or could be.” - Wolfgang

The execution of the music from Wolfgang and his stellar band strikes a strong chord — Andy Langham (piano), Carlitos Del Puerto (bass), Gene Coye (drums), and Luisito Quintero (percussion). These players sound so good together on this album that a spiritual chemistry was formed! 


The main characteristics of Wolfgang Schalk's music is his drive to formal control on one hand and his melodic talent and skills as a composer on the other. His compositions are pleasantly complex, rich in contrasts, nevertheless resolutely intended in a narrative cantability that creates fertile room for expression with his musicians.

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11
Album Review

Wolfgang Schalk: From Here to There

Read "From Here to There" reviewed by Mark F. Turner


Guitarist Wolfgang Schalk continues to bring that soulful swing which might label him as an acolyte of hard-bop jazz. Yet there's much more to his story as proven in his seventh release as leader From Here To There unveiling fresh material delivered by commanding musicians. This deference to the art-form also proves Schalk's exceptional talent and passion as a leader and performer. Schalk supplies rapid-fired riffs and blistering solos in the appropriately titled “Wow Wow What" but ...

5
Album Review

Wolfgang Schalk: Word of Ear

Read "Word of Ear" reviewed by Mark F. Turner


As if to quietly utter “enough with talking about the music...," guitarist Wolfgang Schalk gets to the heart of the matter with Word of Ear and lets his playing speak loud and clear. This is his sixth recording as a leader and he continues to reveal expressive phrasing and piercing solos on hollow body electric and acoustic guitars. Schalk's bicoastal connection between New York and California (currently living in Los Angeles) finds recruiting some local talent in ...

282
Album Review

Wolfgang Schalk: Wanted

Read "Wanted" reviewed by John Barron


Guitarist/composer Wolfgang Schalk draws inspiration from his experiences on the New York and Los Angeles jazz scenes. These varied musical environments have led the Austrian native down a divergent musical path, colored with a variety of textures and moods. For Wanted, his fifth release as a leader, the guitarist teams up with pianist Geoffrey Keezer, drummer Marvin “Smitty" Smith and the late bassist Dave Carpenter. The combined musicianship of the quartet is a powerful force, skillfully exploring a set of ...

272
Album Review

Wolfgang Schalk: Wanted

Read "Wanted" reviewed by Mark F. Turner


With full hollow-bodied goodness, guitarist Wolfgang Schalk delivers his most heartfelt recording to date with Wanted. Recorded in Los Angeles, Schalk not only switched locations from his bi-coastal residencies in New York but also sports a new quartet with veteran aces Geoffrey Keezer (piano), Marvin “Smitty" Smith (drums) and bassist Dave Carpenter, who sadly passed away in June 2008. Schalk has recorded a number of noteworthy recordings including 2005's Space Messengers (Universal Music Group). He continues to ...

217
Album Review

Wolfgang Schalk: Space Messengers

Read "Space Messengers" reviewed by Mark F. Turner


The music on guitarist Wolfgang Schalk's new release sounds as if it could have been recorded decades ago, and that's not a bad thing. Like older guitarists such as Jim Hall and Pat Martino and younger players such as Adam Rogers and Kurt Rosenwinkel, Schalk clearly deserves greater recognition for his own soulful articulation and deep skills.

Space Messengers follows 2002's Rainbows in the Night with (thankfully) the same band--including pianist Dave Kikoski, bassist Andy McKee, and drummer Ian Froman. ...

302
Album Review

Wolfgang Schalk: Space Messengers

Read "Space Messengers" reviewed by AAJ Staff


On Space Messengers, Austrian musician Wolfgang Schalk proves to be an explosively inventive guitarist and a gifted, challenging composer. Backed by an alert, vibrant rhythm section, he digs deep into eight original compositions, improvising with considerable intelligence, passion, and swing.

In the CD booklet, Schalk cites Pat Martino as one of his primary influences, and indeed, the Austrian possesses a clarion, ringing guitar sound that recalls Martino. Yet Schalk is very much his own man. He plays with ...

184
Album Review

Wolfgang Schalk: Rainbows In The Night

Read "Rainbows In The Night" reviewed by Mark F. Turner


With heartfelt sincerity and dedication to guitar greats such as Wes Montgomery and George Benson, jazz guitarist Wolfgang Schalk interprets his vision and love for the jazz guitar dialect. Rainbows in the Night is a thoughtful and earnest recording. The compositions are seemingly not intended to highlight a blistering jam session, but more a mellow sense of swing.

Wolfgang Schalk, like most musicians of his caliber, has been on the jazz scene for a while. A native of Austria who ...

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3

Recording

Guitarist Wolfgang Schalk releases Obsession. Available now!

Guitarist Wolfgang Schalk releases Obsession. Available now!

Source: Wolfgang Schalk


Wolfgang Schalk (guitar), Andy Langham (piano), Carlitos Del Puerto (bass), Gene Coye (drums), Luisito Quintero (percussion, voice). Recorded at United Recording, Los Angeles, CA. “Obsession is my tribute to the dedication to music and art. It is also a mantra for the responsibility which comes attached to it. It is something you have in your veins and something that is always with you, no matter what you are doing. And the process itself is about the creating because it needs ...

5

Recording

Guitarist Wolfgang Schalk Releases "From Here To There"

Guitarist Wolfgang Schalk Releases "From Here To There"

Source: Wolfgang Schalk

Guitarist and composer Wolfgang Schalk’s new album From Here to There is an electrifying statement celebrating the “power of now" in jazz. Schalk’s new compositions plus a fresh take on Ellington’s “Satin Doll" bring the listener on a swinging spiritual journey from the first note. His band—Andy Langham (piano), Carlitos Del Puerto (bass), Clarence Penn (drums)—masterfully support Schalk’s characteristic warm sound and swinging lines. From Here to There, released on Frame Up Music and Schalk's 7th album as a leader, ...

Contest

Enter the "Wolfgang Schalk - The Second Third Man" Giveaway at All About Jazz!

Enter the "Wolfgang Schalk - The Second Third Man" Giveaway at All About Jazz!

Source: All About Jazz

All About Jazz members are invited to enter the Frame Up Music “Wolfgang Schalk - The Second Third Man“ giveaway contest starting today. We'll select FIVE winners at the conclusion of the contest on November 4th. Click here to enter the contest

(Becoming a fan of Wolfgang Schalk at AAJ automatically enters you in the contest.)

Good luck! Your Friends at Frame Up Music About The Second Third Man

The music on The Second Third Man is an ...

Recording

Guitarist Wolfgang Schalk Releases Special Remix Of "The Second Third Man"

Guitarist Wolfgang Schalk Releases Special Remix Of "The Second Third Man"

Source: Wolfgang Schalk

Release Date: June 11, 2013 / Label: Frame Up Music / Format: CD, Digital Download By Walter Kolosky The collaboration with Michael Brecker was a dream come true. By 1996 standards, the compositions and performances on Wolfgang Schalkʼs The Second Third Man were impressive. The title cut stood out, as I wrote previously: “The Second Third Man" is indicative of the whole album. It is improvised music of originality and high performance. Schalk and Michael Brecker are perfect foils as ...

4

Contest

Enter the "Wolfgang Schalk - Word of Ear" Giveaway at All About Jazz!

Enter the "Wolfgang Schalk - Word of Ear"  Giveaway at All About Jazz!

Source: All About Jazz

All About Jazz members are invited to enter the “Wolfgang Schalk - Word of Ear“ giveaway contest starting today. We'll select TEN winners at the conclusion of the contest on October 21st. Click here to enter the contest

(Becoming a fan of Wolfgang Schalk at AAJ automatically enters you in the contest.)

Good luck! About Word of Ear Wolfgang Schalk's new release Word of Ear further showcases his talent as a consummate guitarist, playing with deep soulfulness and ...

66

Recording

A New Recording By Guitarist/Composer Wolfgang Schalk

A New Recording By Guitarist/Composer Wolfgang Schalk

Source: Wolfgang Schalk

Wolfgang Schalk's latest release Word of Ear further showcases his talent as a consummate guitarist, playing with deep soulfulness and feeling. He delivers hard swinging and emotive compositions in the vein of the patriarchal jazz guitarist lineage while highlighting his membership in the elite club of today's creative voices. With the follow up to his critically acclaimed release Wanted (Frame Up Music, 2008) 
the bi-coastal (NY/LA) jazz guitarist presents new music with an exciting band that includes the tremendous rhythm ...

180

Recording

Wolfgang Schalk New CD Release "Wanted"

Wolfgang Schalk New CD Release "Wanted"

Source: All About Jazz

A new recording by guitarist Wolfgang Schalk Wanted Frame Up Music Street Date: September 2nd 2008 Wolfgang Schalk: guitar Geoffrey Keezer: piano Dave Carpenter: bass Marvin “Smitty" Smith: drums Recorded at Encore/Paramount Studios, Los Angeles, CA “Schalk creates impressive structures for improvisation, and he fits each and every structure with a hip, catchy melody. If other musicians pick up on these tunes, every single one of them has the potential to become a jazz ...

97

Event

Wolfgang Schalk Quartet March 25 at Jazz Bakery

Wolfgang Schalk Quartet March 25 at Jazz Bakery

Source: Aabacus Agency


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Performance / Tour

Wolfgang Schalk Qt (Fri) Mark Helias's Trio Behear (Sat) John Fischer (Sun) & More This Weekend At Cornelia Street Cafe

Wolfgang Schalk Qt (Fri) Mark Helias's Trio Behear (Sat) John Fischer (Sun) & More This Weekend At Cornelia Street Cafe

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services

CORNELIA STREET CAFE 29 Cornelia Street, NYC, New York212-989-9319 http://www.corneliastreetcafe.com between West 4th and Bleecker Sts, Greenwich Village 1 Subway to Sheridan Square; A, C, E, B, D, V, F to West 4th St. This Weekend At Cornelia Street Cafe Fri Nov 17 9:00PM & 10:30PM WOLFGANG SCHALK QUARTET (Wolfgang Schalk, guitar, composition;Helen Sung, piano;Andy McKee, bass;Ian Froman, drums) Wolfgang Schalk has garnered international acclaim as a gifted ...

82

Event

Wolfgang Schalk Quartet at the Cornelia Street Cafe on Friday, November 17

Wolfgang Schalk Quartet at the Cornelia Street Cafe on Friday, November 17

Source: All About Jazz

Wolfgang Schalk - guitar/comp. Helen Sung - piano Andy McKee - bass Ian Froman - drums Friday, November 17 | 9:30 & 11:00 pm Cornelia Street Cafe 29 Cornelia Street New York, NY For reservations please call (212) 989 9319 or go to: www.corneliastreetcafe.com Wednesday, November 15 | 7:30 pm Embassy of Austria | Tickets: $15 3524 International Court NW Washington, DC ...

“Wolfgang Schalk is a guitarist’s guitarist... No matter how frenetic or soothing his playing may become, Schalk always plays with a master improviser’s sense of quest.” - DownBeat Editors’ Picks Bobby Reed


“One of the brightest stars in the jazz guitar firmament and one of the best jazz releases this year.” - Tom Evered, fmr GM & SVP, Blue Note Records

“Wolfgang Schalk has enjoyed an enviable career… Schalk’s crystalline leads are soulful and elegant.” - Jazziz

"A musician with religious intensity and a composer with heavy virtuosity… a delicacy of decadent genius.” - Couleurs Jazz HITS

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Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Obsession

Frame Up Music
2019

buy

From Here to There

Frame Up Music
2016

buy

Word of Ear

Frame Up Music
2012

buy

The Second Third Man...

Frame Up Music
2012

buy

Wanted

Frame Up Music
2008

buy

Space Messengers

Universal Music Group
2005

buy

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