NYC – THIS IS US is a project of the Austrian Cultural Forum in cooperation with Austrian musicians from New York City/New Jersey. The project shows a music video based on recent impressions from New York City, the epicenter of the Corona/COVID 19 crisis in the USA, which hit artists particularly hard to create a message of hope and solidarity. The video offers a very personal musical and visual interpretation of the current crisis by combining a new interpretation of an Austrian classical music piece with the original contemporary compositions of the artists.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
DANIELA BAUER Yela (Daniela Bauer) is a Vienna-born soul musician from New York. She received a scholarship from the Berklee School of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. During her time at Berklee she continued to work with internationally renowned musicians and producers such as Rodney Hunter (G-Stone Recordings), Stereotyp (G-Stone Recordings), Dzihan & Kamien (Couch Records), Café Drechsler, Thomas Rabitsch and Waxolutionists. She has sung background vocals for Grammy nominated soul singer Musiq Soulchild and acclaimed German soul singer Joy Denalane and worked with US musicians/producers Kelo Saunders and Chris Sholar, to name but a few. Yela was co-author of the Austrian submission to the Eurovision Song Contest. In September 2012 she released her EP “Just The Way You Are” with Philadelphia based producer Steve McKie. (IG: @yelalight)
DENNIS BRANDNER
New York-based saxophonist Dennis Brandner has earned a reputation as a musician who plays his instrument with great ease, as a creative composer with a personal approach, and as an improviser who employs a lyrical yet exciting calm in his solo work. Steely Dan’s saxophonist and internationally acclaimed jazz great Walt Weiskopf describes him as “a highly talented jazz musician. He has what it takes to succeed in the music business.” Dennis studied at the Carinthian State Conservatory with Michael Erian and finally decided to move to the USA at the age of 18 to continue his passion for music. After working as a sideman on numerous albums, his first album as leader “Dawn Betrayed” will be released in early fall 2020. (IG: @dennisbrandner; Website: www. dennisbrandner. com)
MARKUS GOTTSCHLICH
The Austrian-born pianist, composer and Steinway artist Markus Gottschlich has been an active jazz musician in the USA for over two decades. In addition to his international concert activities, Gottschlich is also dedicated to jazz education. He was artistic director of the Miami Beach Jazz Festival, executive director of the New Mexico Jazz Workshop, and is currently director of music at Jazz House Kids and the Montclair Jazz Festival. Gottschlich has a lot to do as a performer, clinician and composer. (IG: @markusgottschlich; Website: www. markusgottschlich. com)
MATTHIAS LOESCHER
Matthias Loescher is a musician and composer living in Brooklyn, New York. He can be seen on countless records and has released seven albums as leader/co-leader. Loescher is a founding member of THE RUFF PACK (co-lead with Stephan Kondert). The group toured extensively in Europe and the USA and produced several successful albums. Since she became lead guitarist of Ms. Lauryn Hill’s band in 2016, Loescher has made several recordings and tours with her around the globe. He has also performed and worked with artists such as Nas, Common, Sean Combs, Steven Marley, Seun Kuti, Deva Mahal, Akua Naru, Doug Wimbish, SK Invitational and many others. (IG: @matt. pedals; website: www. matthiasloescher. com)
PETER KRONREIF
Peter Kronreif, born and raised in Salzburg, studied jazz at the Bruckner Conservatory in Linz with Doug Hammond and Jeff Boudreaux. As a young player he gained a lot of experience with jazz greats in the European scene. He toured in over 20 nations and worked with Harry Sokal, Matthieu Michel, Johannes Enders, Alegre Correa and S. K. Invitational, among others. In 2010 he was awarded the Hans Koller Prize as “Sideman of the Year 2009”. In NYC, he leads the group “Peter Kronreif WAYFARERS”, which will release its second album this summer; otherwise, Peter is a busy sideman in the NYC scene and works with artists such as Remy LeBoeuf, Seamus Blake, Aaron Parks, Matt Brewer, Randy Brecker, Donny McCaslin, Thana Alexa, Christos Rafalides, Jaleel Shaw, just to name a few. (IG: @petecrowny; Website: www. peterkronreif. com)
PETER TRAUNMUELLER
Salzburg-born drummer, arranger and composer Peter Traunmueller from New York has earned a reputation as a musician who is fluent in many styles and genres. His well-developed facility on his instrument and his great ability to listen to and support his fellow band members has given Peter the opportunity to play around the world with artists such as Assaf Kehati, Michel Reis, Gianni Gagliardi, Lukas Gabric, John Stetch, Jim Cammack, Curtis J, Jon Davis, Dan Lipsitz, Steve Ash, Milo Z, Pat O’Leary, Hyuna Park, among many others. (IG: @petertraunmueller; website: www. petertraunmueller. com)
STEPHAN KONDERT
Born in Salzburg in 1981, Kondert studied jazz at the Bruckner University in Linz, but always had an affinity for hip-hop, so his move to New York was a natural step. In recent years he has built up a large community of all-star musicians and artists in the city, but has also maintained a strong connection to his Austrian roots. His SK Invitational project, founded over a decade ago, is the primary result of this creative synergy. (IG: @stephankondert; website: www. skinvitational. com)
