Audiosamples (click to start & stop):

Pete´s Message  Nocturne Op. 9 
Brazilian Nature  The Edge
Here We Are What Now My Love?

In the Corona year 2020 this great project developed out of a spontaneous studio jamsession of four jazz personalities:
A strong Jazz Organ Quartet, of course with the legendary Wes Montgomery Quartet in the back of the head, with some of the best musicians of Vienna, Austria.
The Clubs were closed, so better meet in the studio of drummer Dusan Novakov (projects with Mark Murphy, Oliver Lake, George Cables, John Marshall, Dick Oatts, Don Menza, Kirk Lightsey, Michelle Hendricks, Toninio Horta, Dusko Gojkovic, Valery Ponomarev, Andi Bey, Bread Lealy, Karl Ratzer, Timna Brauer und Elias Meiri Ensemble, Fernando Correa, Fritz Pauer, Big Band Graz, Frank Lacy, Gregory Porter, Paul Zauner, and Andy Middleton) and record some tunes! 
On the soundgiving Hammond Organ: Erwin Schmidt (projects a.o. with Kevin Mahogany, Ray Charles, Christian Havel, Elly Wright, Ingrid Maria Wagner, Carole Alston, Heinz von Hermann, Joris Dudli, Hans Salomon. Joschi Schneeberger,  Walther Großrubatscher).
On the cool jazz guitar: Christian Havel (projects Dennis Irwin, Charles Fambrough, Tony Scherr, Paolo Cardoso, Peter Herbert, Paul Imm, Jack Walrath, Ralph Ericson, Valerie Ponomarev, Juraj Bartos, Ingrid Jensen, Lee Harper, Ed Thigpen, Mario Gonzi, Joris Dudli, Fritz Pauer, Jon Davis, John di Martino, Roberto di Gioia, Harry Sokal, Klaus Dickbauer, Andy Middelton, Thomas Kugi, Rudi Berger, Erwin Schmidt, Carole Alston, Toninho Horta, Nelson Faria)
On saxophone and flute: Bernhard Wiesinger (projects FREE TENORS feat. Harry Sokal , Miss Moravia, Joris Dudli, Christian Havel, Fritz Pauer, Lori Williams, John DiMartino, Danny Grissett, Klemens Marktl, Rob Bargad, Renato Chicco Jon Davis, Gina Schwarz,Kevin Hays, Scott Colley, Bill Stewart)

1. Pete´s Message (Bernhard Wiesinger) 2. Nocturne Op. 9, No. 2 (Frédéric Chopin) 3. Within A Word (Christian Havel) 4. Brazilian Nature (Christian Havel) 5. Here We Are (Bernhard Wiesinger)
6. Blue Rose (Duke Ellington) 7. The Edge (Erwin Schmidt) 8. Walkin´ In Monk´s Shoes (Bernhard Wiesinger) 9. What Now My Love?  Cover design by Rens Newland for GRFX

Audiosamples (click to start & stop):

Luny Tune Senza Fine  Minor Truth
Peace Groovin on Dr. John One for ST
Rumpelstilzchen Balkan Flood

Erwin Schmidt, Martin Fuss, Wolfgang Pointner and Vladimir Kostadinovic are all masters of their respective instruments in any case and these four musicians have more in common than their jazz expertise: what makes The Organ Champs unbeatable as a quartet is their shared grounding in the blues. Plus that a certain funky vibe always underlies their mellow songs and solos. Their debut recording required no major advance coordination, but they simply counted themselves in and turned it on. “Turn it on” is also the name of the album, which kicks off with a vigorous drumroll! At its epicentre is the earthy, vibrant sound of the Hammond organ, a recurrent feature throughout the history of jazz that gives the music an irresistible tingling warmth. The Organ Champs also like to make forays in the direction of soul jazz and hard bop, with classics by the likes of Horace Silver, Lee Morgan or Larry Young. In their own songs, though, they skilfully bring their wide-ranging influences bang up to date. 

1. Luny Tune - 2. Senza Fine - 3. Minor Truth - 4. Peace - 5. Groovin on Dr. John - 6. One for ST - 7. Way Up North - 8. Why does it have to be so bad - 9. Sonic Boom - 10. Rumpelstilzchen - 11. Balkan Flood - 12. Are You Serious

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Audiosamples (click to start & stop):

Waltz for Jonathan  Boppin` in D-Minor  
Ed`s Blues Go Wes!  Trikonasana 
Savoy Ballroom The Big Band Theory  
Velhos Amigos

The Austrian guitarist Roland Stonek is at home in several styles, like Jazz, Country and Latin. Here he finally presents his first album as a bandleader, of course with his favorite kind of music: Jazz in the tradition of Wes Montgomery. He chose the guitar/organ/drums-format, with Joris Dudli on drums and Erwin Schmidt on the organ and decided – since it is his debut – to expand the trio for this recording by a hornsection consisting of the creme-de-la-creme of Austrian musicians: Daniel Nösig/trumpet, Bernhard Wiesinger/alto sax & flute, Thomas Kugi/tenor & baritone sax and Robert Bachner/trombone. On six of his eight original compositions you can hear them blowing those great horn arrangements written by the gifted Thomas Kugi. These - together with the superb playing of those admirable musicians – add another dimension to his music. 

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Audiosamples (click to start & stop): 
A Song for You   Who Can I Turn To
Send In the Clowns  My One and Only Love
Christmas bonus tracks: The Christmas Song  Let it Snow

Since 1985 Herb Caruso (a.k.a. Hansi Caruso), who has been hyped by critics as Austrian Frank Sinatra, has been active as a jazz singer and performer and has been one of the most interesting crooners in Austria ever since.
Who else could come up with the idea in Vienna to keep the long and venerable tradition of the American Songbook alive?
Who else could develop the over-sized stage personality of a Hansi Caruso for many years with different formations based on the way of life of this American era?
Herb Caruso here presents a mature album with a real sense for the genre of jazzballads and swing. It transports the compositions of his great idols effortlessly into the 21st century without making the impression of being on a nostalgic trip. His simple but convincing maxim: „You can bring what you feel" and „You can sing when you swing“.
For this very imtimate recordings he invited a very delicate rhythm section with pianist, organist and arranger Erwin Schmidt, the great jazz guitarist Christian Havel and drummer Lukas Böck.
The album also has wonderful versions of The Christmas Song and Let it Snow!

01. A Song for You 3:42 * 02. Yesterday I Heard the Rain 3:45 * 03. The Christmas Song 4:48 * 04.Who Can I Turn To 4:15 * 05. A Stranger In Paradise 4:18 * 06. Send in the Clowns 3:18 * 07. I Am In the Mood for Love 5:07 * 08. My One and Only Love 3:20 * 09. My Foolish Heart 5:15 * 10. Let It Snow 2:49 * 11. One for the Road 3:27 

Audiosamples (click to start & stop):

Lilibets Dance  Besinnung 
Elisabeth  Hochzeitswalzer
Winnetou und Old Shatterhand

Christian Havel and Erwin Schmidt are a sworn harmonic team since some decades already:
they understand and feel each other perfectly and are reaching an extremly high level in playing and phrasing together as well as complementing each other in sounds.
They choosed to dedicate these recordings to their wifes, and in general to the WOMEN of the world.
For this purpose each of them made some special compositions and they added some fitting originals plus two standards to complete this fine album.
Erwin Schmidt plays the grand piano as well as the Hammond Organ. Christian Havel plays his great Jazz guitar and does some lead singing, too.
Both did also some backvocals.

01. Lilibet`s Dance (C.Havel) 02. Hochzeitswalzer (E.Schmidt) 03. Senza Fine (Gino Paoli) 04. Elisabeth (C.Havel) 05. Bridges to Bridget (E.Schmidt) 06. Winnetou und Old Shatterhand (C.Havel/E.Schmidt) 07. Besinnung (C.Havel) 08 Liebeslied (E.Schmidt) 09. Norwegian Wood (Lennon/McCartney)

Audiosamples (click to start & stop):

Let It Snow

New and old Christmas Songs in delicate and smart Swing. 

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Santa Claus is Coming to town

enjoy yourself with swinging Christmas standards. (feat. Christian Havel, Erwin Schmidt, Joschi Schneeberger)

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You Do Something to Me

the lady sings the most important C.P. songs, tastefully accompanied by her fine jazz combo!

(feat. Christian Havel, Erwin Schmidt, Joschi Schneeberger)

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Windjammer What The World Needs Now Sunshine Superman

This very groovy band around drummer Andi Weiss plays real cool funky stuff, as the group name indicates. Austrian masters of groove-Jazz, like Christian Havel and Thomas Kugi are featured, completed by the strong rhythm of Erwin Schmidt(organ), Herfried Knapp(b) and Anton Mühlhofer(perc). A mix of big/well known songs and some special ones are brought in the fine, reduced sound of the band! (recorded live!)

01. Sunshine Superman 02. Windjammer 03. What The World Needs Now Is Love 04. Boogie On Reggae Woman 05. Ain‘t It Funky Now 06. Deep Down Soul 07. Drive My Car 08. Jan Jan 09. Sweet Emma 10. Motown Vamp

Audiosamples (click to start & stop):

Tea Time Hadern Evil Eva

In a great live concert, in a great shape, the formidable saxophone (Tenor & Baritone) and flute player presents a Tribute CD to the genious of Lucky Thompson, as well as a Tribute CD to his own 70th Birthday! With Mario Gonzi (d), Uli Langthaler (b) and Erwin Schmidt (p). Gratulations!

CD 1- 01. Fillet of Soul 02. Evil Eva 03. Tea Time 04. Soul Lullabyv05. Moment of Truth 06. Reminiscent 07. Mid-Nite-Oil
CD 2 - 01. Mr. Skimmy 02. Du und I 03. Blues for Harry, Serge, Cecil, Gerry, Pepper ... 04. Thanks 05. Hadern 06. Ground Blues