Recommended CDs

International Press

Moments of Noise (2006, Big Band) - Travelling Hard (2006) - Heart Disc (2004)

General reviews

"Some of today´s most exciting and innovative jazz trombone playing is coming from Europe, and Austrian trombonist Robert Bachner is proving that." Paul Compton, ITA Journal

Bachner, who never thought he’d be leading a big band, has assembled a world-class ensemble, and his compositions and arrangements are as admirable as any you’re likely to hear. This superb debut fairly shouts for an encore.Jack Bowers, All About Jazz.com

"... trombonist Bachner is absolutely gripping. His style is a highly personal synthesis of the last 50-odd years of jazz trombone. Though J. J. Johnson and Albert Mangelsdorff figure prominently, Bachner can also get down and-dirty like Rudd, Anderson and Valente, when he wants to. Yet ­ he really doesn’t sound like any of these greats." Dave Wayne, www.jazzweekly.com

"...I was particularly impressed by Bachner’s trombone, warm and full-toned; his technique, range and blend were breathtaking." Bob Bragonier, www.52ndstreet.com

"... And in Movement IV, "Getting Started," Partyka writes a pleasingly angry interplay of sections, lacing together lines that climax in a euphonium solo by Robert Bachner, who grabs our attention (...), creates an intensity that flows naturally within the piece´s structure." Steve Armour, Downbeat

"... Bachner’s full-bodied tone and engaging technical skills portend an exciting new voice on the jazz trombone who deserves a wider audience." Steven Loewy, All Music Guide

CD "Moments of Noise" (Big Band,released December 2006)

As the title suggests, there are Moments of Noise on Austrian trombonist Robert Bachner’s debut album as leader of his own big band, but they are always purposeful, never arbitrary, and are staunchly tempered by moments of beauty, awareness and sensitivity. And as noise is one of the requisite components of any big band, neither are they ever unsuitable. To the contrary, Bachner, a talented composer and arranger, makes certain that whatever “noise” his ensemble produces is an integral part of a more aesthetically rewarding musical landscape.
Indeed, the theme from which the album takes its name, written as a quintet piece in 1994 as a part of Bachner’s graduation exam at the Bruckner Konservatorium in Linz, is powerful but never strident, an explosive modal chart reminiscent of Coltrane’s “Moment’s Notice” with a swinging middle section more akin to Basie than Mingus or Gil Evans, encompassing robust solos by pianist Robert Schönherr and soprano saxophonist Christian Maurer. Bachner’s other arrangements are equally engaging, as are those by Martin Reiter (“Heart Disc”) and Helmar Hill (“One More Time”). The more familiar among them are Jerome Kern’s “The Way You Look Tonight”—an outstanding chart featuring thermal solos by Bachner and baritone Thomas Kugi—and John Lewis’ melodious “Afternoon in Paris,” impressively enlivened by trumpeter Daniel Nösig and alto Gerald Preinfalk.
The fast-moving “Heart Disc” showcases Preinfalk on alto with Nösig, while “One More Time,” an irrepressible groover, embodies persuasive solos by tenor Ilse Riedler, trombonist Martin Ptak and trumpeter Jörg Engels. Tenor Christian Maurer and alto Andreas See are front and center on Bachner’s luminous “Movement Two,” Bachner and guitarist Adrian Reiter on the lone ballad, the charming albeit oddly named “Brasstime” (written for an Austrian group called Pro Brass). The album’s “bonus track,” Al Dubin/Harry Warren’s venerable “Lullaby of Broadway,” is also its only vocal, nicely sung by Karin Bachner. The rhythm section (Schönherr, Reiter, bassist Gina Schwarz, drummer Klemens Marktl) is presistently sharp and enthusiastic.
Even in Austria, it would seem, big band jazz is alive and well. Bachner, who never thought he’d be leading a big band, has assembled a world-class ensemble, and his compositions and arrangements are as admirable as any you’re likely to hear. This superb debut fairly shouts for an encore.
Jack Bowers, All About Jazz.com, January 2007

Die Big Band des Hans Koller Preisträgers 2006 Robert Bachner erhielt für das Album "Travelling Hard" (ATS Records/Extraplatte; 2005) das Prädikat "CD des Jahres" beim Hans Koller Preis 2006, nun liegt bereits das nächste Produkt des arbeitsamen Posaunisten vor. Weil Robert Bachner der Sound einer Big Band schon immer fasziniert hat und weil er eben auch in diese Richtung etwas machen wollte, scheute er weder Kosten noch Risiko und versammelte eine Reihe erstklassiger Bläser - zugleich Musiker, die aus der österreichischen Jazzlandschaft nicht wegzudenken sind: Gerald Preinfalk, Andreas See, Christian Maurer, Ilse Riedler, Thomas Kugi an den Saxofonen, Aneel Soomary, Jörg Engels, Barny Girlinger, Daniel Nösig an den Trompeten, sowie Martin Ptak, Mario Vavti, Bernhard Karoh und Charly Wagner an den Posaunen. "Eine Big Band ist immer nur so gut wie ihr Bläsersatz!", erklärte denn auch Robert Bachner im Gespräch, seine musikalischen Vorstellungen in die Tat umsetzend. Den Rhythmus geben Gina Schwarz am Bass und Klemens Markl am Schlagzeug an, am Piano arbeitet Robert Schönherr und an der Gitarre ist Adrian Reiter zu hören. Stimmlich bringt sich Karin Bachner in das Geschehen ein. Schon ab dem ersten Ton ist die Handschrift von Robert Bachner nicht zu überhören. Er hat ein Gespür für feine Melodien, er lässt seine Big Band "wingen", die Kompositionen geben den Musikern "Time and Space" für ihre Soli und wenn sie genug "gesagt" haben, dann holt Robert Bachner sie wieder auf den Boden der musikalischen Tatsachen zurück und vereint die Stimmen wieder zu einem Breitwandformat füllenden Gruppensound. Big Band Sound vom Feinsten!
Alfred Krondraf, Kulturwoche, Jänner 2007

CD "Travelling Hard" (Quintet, released March 2006)

"Travelling Hard is the Hans Koller Prize (i.e. the Austrian Jazz Grammy) winner in the category "CD of the Year 2006", and it's easy to see why: The ensemble is in top form, Bachner's compositions and arrangements draw from a variety of styles while maintaining their originality and managing to capture the listener's interest, and his trombone playing is excellent throughout. This is quite a find."
Horst Prillinger, Rate Your Music.com September 2006

"Posaunist Robert Bachner taucht mit seiner zweiten CD tief in die Gefilde des Jazz ein. Die Palette reicht von Hot bis Hard Bop, durch zieht sich das modale Feeling eines frühen Miles Davis oder eines John Coltrane. Gemeinsam mit seiner "perfekten" Band Christian Maurer (Saxophon), Reinhard Micko (Piano), Uli Langthaler (Bass), Christian Salfellner (drums) versteht es der geschulte Arrangeur, dem Mainstream seine Berechtigung wiederzugeben. Mit Christian Maurer verbindet Bachner eine Jahrelange Nachbarschaft beim Upper Austrian Jazz Orchester. Diese Partnerschaft ist auch beim Hören von Kompositionen wie "Public Secret" deutlich. Bachner ist stets großzügig. Seine Arrangements sind auf den Einzelnen ausgerichtet, wollen ihm eine möglichst breite, harmonisch komplexe Bühne für solistische Ausflüge bieten. Diese Konzept geht mit den beiden erstklassigen Solisten Maurer und Micko durchgehend auf. Niemals drängt sich hier einer in den Vordergrund, die Spielfreude und der Fluss werden durch nichts getrübt. Perfektion und ein klassischer Ansatz verschmelzen hier zur musikalischen Sprache eines der aktivsten heimischen Musiker. Ob mit seiner eigenen Big Band, beim Vienna Art Orchestra oder der vom vielen Blech glänzenden Formation Heavy Tuba, Bachner ist ein Workaholic. Dass er vom Blues nicht genug kriegt, bewies er schon anlässlich seines 27. Geburtstags. Damals stand Bachner mit dem Vienna Art Orchestra auf der Bühne des Brucknerhauses ­ und blies 27 exzellente Solo-Chorusse, die einem bis heute noch in den Ohren rauschen."
Hans Koller Preis "CD of the Year 2006", Jury Begründung

"Heart Disc, Robert Bachner’s stunning first release as a leader, impressed listeners with the trombonist’s energized rough-hewn solos and confident playing. Despite the misspelled album title and opening piece by the same name, Bachner’s follow-up, Travelling Hard, highlights Bachner’s writing skills and strong playing, as he leads his same quintet through seven original compositions. As Kurt Dietrich suggests in his liner notes, this follow-up release lowers the intensity a bit, but it nonetheless provides a potent sampling of Bachner’s considerable talents.
The opening track sets a high standard that is hard to sustain, as the trombonist drives hard with an upbeat air and a visceral excitement that recall the playing of Frank Rosolino. What makes Bachner so pleasurable to hear is that he rarely gives an inch; so that even on the lovely ballad, “Public Secret,” he exudes a positive demeanor that easily complements the lilting voice of Christian Maurer’s soprano sax. You can hear much of the history of the trombone in Bachner’s playing, including traces of Buster Cooper, Garnett Brown, J.J. Johnson, and, of course, Rosolino, all of whom coalesce in Bachner’s brief solo on “Backup.” The short recording time cannot hide a broad range of writing that includes the oddly metered “From 4 and to 2 and,” with its strong left-handed Boogie-inflected piano line that presages a dynamic piano-backed drum solo from Christian Salfellner, a wickedly forceful linear piano improvisation from Reinhard Micko, and a surprise ending. The pianist is consistently commanding throughout the album, rarely sacrificing nuance to his considerable technical talents.
Bachner is a good writer, who composes for the instrumentation of the group. He is careful to retain a light accessibility that should help to spread his name, though he is a more sophisticated and knowledgeable composer than is initially apparent. The all-around high level of individual performances, particularly from the horns and bass, gives the album as a whole a special punch, resulting in solid, straight ahead Jazz, with enough intermittent detours to keep it interesting.
Steven Loewy, Cadence Magazine, Oktober 2006

"Yesss!" entfährt es mir nach den ersten Takten. Und so wird es jedem gehen, der "so was" mag: Keine Frage, hier herrscht striktes Beginner-Verbot und das ist gut so, stehen Robert Bachners Kompositionen eindeutig für ausgefuchste Rhythmen und schräge Formen, die Dank der kompakten Rhythmsection Reinhard Micko (p), Uli Langthaler (b) und Christian Salfellner (dr) und dank des großartigen Beitrags des Chefs selbst und Christian Maurers (ts/ss - Anspieltipp: "Standard of Reference") leichtfüßiges Selbstverständnis für sich beanspruchen.
Dementsprechend findet man auch keine handelsüblichen Sperrigkeiten, sondern trifft unerwartet auch auf Momente schlichter Jazz-Ästhetik ("Public Secret") - genau solange, bis man sich gern auf die weitere Reise einlässt. Eine Reise, die man sich keinesfalls entgehen lassen und unbedingt auch live mitverfolgen sollte!
Sandra Rose Otto, Jazzzeit Mai 2006

Er ist bis dato vor allem durch seine Arbeit mit Vienna Art Orchtestra und dem Upper Austrian Jazz Orchestra sowie durch sein Debüt "Heart Disc" positiv aufgefallen; mit "Travelling Hard" legt Posaunist Robert Bachner ein Album vor, das, vom Vokabular des Hard Bop ausgehend, sein feines Gespür für ausgewogene Kompositionen mit interessanten Voicings in den Mittelpunkt rückt.
Außerdem sind diese Stücke die perfekte Ausgangsbasis für die fundierte Soloarbeit aller Beteiligten. Das bedeutet, abgesehen von Robert Bachner selbst, eine österreichische All ­ Star Band mit Christian Maurer (ts,ss) , Reinhard Micko ( p ), Uli Langthaler (b) und Christian Salfellner (dr). Diese fünf Herren zeigen vor, wie man intelligenten und zeitgemäßen Straight Ahead Jazz allererster Güte macht.
Manfred Schuster, Concerto Juni 2006

CD "Heart Disc" (Quintet, released July 2004)

"Some of today´s most exciting and innovative jazz trombone playing is coming from Europe, and Austrian trombonist Robert Bachner is proving that. In addition to leading his own quintet, Bachner has earned strong reviews for his work with ensembles such as the Vienna Art Orchestra, the Upper Austrian Jazz Orchestra, and the Concert Jazz Orchestra Vienna. He is also an accomplished composer and several leading European ensembles have recorded his music.
HEART DISC is Bachner´s first CD as a leader. His trombone playing reveals a variety of influences - hints of Fred Wesley, Ray Anderson, Conrad Herwig, Bob Brookmeyer, and Urbie Green are clearly audible. Nevertheless, Bachner has succeeded in developing his own unique voice. His sound is robust, extroverted, and soulful, and utilizes a broad palette of tonal colors. His playing grabs your attention and does not let go.
The quintet plays with remarkable communication, energy, and time, and seems strongly influenced by the freedom and expression that defined John Coltrane´s groups of the 1960s. Simply put, everything feels right, largely due to Christian Salfellner´s excellent drumming. This is particularly true on the title track, Moments of Noise, and No More Doubts, in which Salfellner´s perfect groove takes Bachner and Maurer to their most inspired solos. The ensemble´s greatest textural, harmonic, and rhythmic exploration takes place on Minor Mood and For Gary. One of Two and Crucial Qualities are more reflective and subtle, and make for a nice total musical package.
Robert Bachner is a major jazz trombone talent deserving greater attention. If you are looking for a CD of straight-ahead standards, HEART DISC is not for you, but get your copy today if you enjoy original music played with passion and conviction."
Paul Compton, ITA Journal, October 2005

"Austrian low brass expert Robert Bachner is best known for his contributions to Matthias Ruegg's Vienna Art Orchestra, the similarly inclined (but less well-known) Upper Austrian Jazz Orchestra, and bassist Achim Tang's quintet. In each of these settings, the consistent and inspired excellence of Bachner's trombone and euphonium improvisations have clearly marked him as a player to watch on the European jazz scene. (...) Heart Disc demonstrates that Euro-jazz can cook with all the fire of, say, Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers or Horace Silver's late '50s/early '60s quintets, while employing the sort of harmonic language that typifies the post-free output of European based jazz labels such as ECM and Soul Note/Black Saint during the '70s and '80s. The gutsy-yet-cerebral sound of Bachner's quintet - dominated by Christian Salfellner's superb drumming and a very fat front line of trombone and Christian Maurer's saxophones - is rather reminiscent of some of Dave Holland's recent quintet projects, albeit with piano instead of vibes.
The seven original compositions that comprise Heart Disc run the gamut from genial, yet hard-charging modern jazz (”Heart Disc,” “Moments of Noise,” “No More Doubts”) through pensive balladry (”One of Two,” “Crucial Qualities”) to ECM-ish impressionism (”For Gary”), and the sort of raucous stuff that peers over the edge without entirely disappearing into the chasm (”Minor Mood”). On every track, the ensemble digs in deeply, playing with unrelenting fire and urgency.
Bachner's playing is as cogent as his writing - his affable trombone sound combines the expressionistic bluster of, say, Roswell Rudd and Gary Valente with the limber precision of Glenn Ferris, J. J. Johnson and Julian Priester. Drummer Salfellner has worked with Bachner in Achim Tang's group - and the flexible, swinging beauty of his playing here is a large part of this disc's success. (...) Heart Disc is a varied and engaging debut CD—Bachner remains a player to watch."
Dave Wayne, www.allaboutjazz.com

"Trombonist Robert Bachner may not be a commonly known name among jazz fans in the United States. With his debut CD, Heart Disc, American jazz fans now have the opportunity to hear Bachner’s music without needing to travel to his native Austria. While jazz may have developed in the United States, the Robert Bachner Quintet proves that Europeans can play it just as well as any in the states. In addition to Bachner’s very compelling trombone playing and composing the sidemen all deserve mention as important contributors to this project. Christian Maurer (saxophones), Reinhard Micko (piano), Uli Langthaler (bass), and Christian Salfellner (drums) play very expressively and interact extraordinarily well with each other on this project.
Describing Bachner’s playing and composing on this album is difficult without making comparisons that do Bachner’s originality an injustice. His fondness for his former teacher’s playing, Conrad Herwig, is evident, as are traces of Frank Rosolino and Albert Mangelsdorff. The performance format sounds similar to recordings made in the 1960s by Miles Davis or Art Blakey. Fans of any of those musicians will surely find this album enjoyable. In spite of those apparent influences the Robert Bachner Quintet shows an originality that is more than just the sum of their parts.
Heart Disc has too many great moments to mention them all, but among them Minor Mood stands out for the composition as well as solos by Bachner and Christian Maurer on soprano sax. On Moments of Noise Bachner displays his abilities to improvise at a very quick tempo while not letting technique get in the way of telling a story. This track also features a virtuosic solo by pianist Reinhard Micko. Each track on this album is unique in mood and are all consistently well performed. (...) If this album receives the attention it deserves we can hopefully soon hear a follow up CD."
David M. Wilken, OTJ february 2005

"Sie ist gelungen, die "Herzscheibe" des Posaunisten Robert Bachner! Im Titelstück wird Gas gegeben, in den balladesken Stücken kommen die stupende Technik und das Feeling des vielbeschäftigten Musikers voll zur Geltung, und seine erstklassigen Mitspieler Christian Maurer an den Saxophonen, Reinhard Micko am Klavier, Uli Langthaler am Bass und Christian tragen das Ihrige bei. Bachner, der ja in fast jeder österreichischen Big Band von Rang und Namen vertreten ist, hat sich mit dieser CD ganz sicher einen schon lang gehegten Wunsch erfüllt. Man hört bei jedem Ton, wieviel Spaß es ihm gemacht hat, mal als Bandleader zu fungieren. Zwei Nummern, alle Kompositionen stammen von Robert Bachner, stechen besonders hervor. Das schnelle, namensgebende Stück "Heart Disc" und "For Gary" zeigen die ganze Bandbreite des Könnens der fünf Musiker. (...)
Alfred Krondraf, Concerto Oktober 2004

"Robert Bachner, Posaunist und Mitwirkender im Vienna Art Orchestra, Upper Austrian Jazz Orchester, Austrian Jazz Composers Orchestra sowie der fulminanten Latin Band Sanmera, die Gruppe Heavy Tuba nicht zu vergessen, geht ab sofort auch mit einer eigenen Partie an den den Start. Und seine "Heart Disc" dürfte ihm wirklich schon am Herzen gelegen sein, denn bei diesem Tonträger beweist er nicht nur eine hervorragende Technik z.B. im temporeichen Titelstück der CD, sondern, vor allem in den folgenden Balladen, auch sein tadelloses Gespür für jazzige Stimmungen. Robert Bachner hat mit Reinhard Micko, p, Christian Maurer, s, Ulli Langthaler, b, und Christian Salfellner, dr, verständige Musiker zu seinem Tonträger Debüt verpflichtet, die neben dem hervorragend agierenden Posaunisten zum Gelingen seiner "Heart Disc" beigetragen haben."
Christian Bakonyi, Jazzzeit August 2004