Raphael Wressnig & Alex Schultz

Raphael was born on the 14th of October 1979 in Graz (Austria). Self-taught on both piano and organ starting at age 16, he was immediately drawn into blues , jazz and funk and has never looked back. Raphael's main influences have come from the great traditional jazz organists Jimmy Smith , Jack Mc Duff , Jimmy McGriff, "Groove" Holmes and Hank Marr. Other influences include modern interpreters John Medeski, Larry Goldings as well as rock, soul and gospel organist Billy Preston. Developing a highly personal style, Raphael soon founded "Raphael Wressnig's Organic Trio" which resulted in their debut album "Manic Organic" in 2002. He started a 4 year, 6 record association with the Austrian guitarist and songwriter "Sir" Oliver Mally. Blues great Larry Garner from Baton Rouge, Louisiana asked Raphael to join his band – a collaboration that has lasted many years. Over the years Raphael has toured and played with some of the best known and respected blues players in the world including: Phil Guy, Louisiana Red, Sugar Blue (Grammy winner, ex-Rolling Stones, "Miss You"), James Armstrong, John Mooney, Steve James, Sharrie Williams and Doug McLeod. He has also played with some of the finest jazz players on the scene: Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez (Grammy winner, ex-Carlos Santanta, McCoy Tyner), Craig Handy (Mingus Dynasty, Roy Haynes Band, "Bill Cosby Show Theme"), Jim Mullen (ex-Average White Band), Pete York (Spencer Davis Group, "Super-Drumming" Helge Schneider). He has also shared the stage with many top-notch artists: Tony Monaco (jazz organ master from Ohio), Billy Paul (Grammy awardwinning soul singer, "Me and Mrs. Jones"!), Sonny Rhodes, Ronnie "Baker" Brookes among others.

During the last couple of years Raphael Wressnig has focused primarily on playing in the organ trio or organ combo formats. His group "Raphael Wressnig' Organic Trio" with Georg Jantscher on guitar and Lukas Knöfler on drums is recognized as one of the most creative organ trios on the European scene today and are also touted as one of the hardest grooving bands in Austria. Concerto magazine picked their album "In Between" as "Best jazz album of the year" in 2004. They continued reshaping the classic organ trio sound taking it in new directions with the album "Boom Bello" that was released in 2006 featuring Alex Schultz, Sax Gordon, Christian Bachner and Luis Ribeiro. Raphael's collaboration with celebrated guitarist Alex Schultz, has resulted in counteless tours both as smooth trio or as hard driving blues group. The group also includes legendary blues singer Finis Tasby from Dallas, Texas. Raphael equally leads the hard-rocking R&B combo "R&B Explosion" with four-time W.C. Handy award nominee saxophonist Sax "Gordon" Beadle. In 2006 Raphael released the album: "Mosquito Bite". This CD was the result of a long time and on-going collaboration with the young, multi awarded guitar player Enrico Crivellaro which combines vintage and modern, jazz and blues.

In 2007 Raphael Wressnig became member of one of today's the most exceptionalblues projects: "Women of Chicago blues" - the three powerhouse Chicago blues divas Deitra Farr, Zora Young and Grana Louise plus the all-star Chicago group the "Ladies Men" with Chicago guitar ace Billy Flynn, Kenny "Beedy Eye" Smith (today's top traditional blues drummer, son of the legendary Muddy Waters drummer Willie "Big Eye" Smith), Felton Crews on Bass (ex-Miles Davis, "Man with a horn" album, Ramsey Lewis, Otis Clay, Otis Rush, Charlie Musselwhite) and Raphael Wressnig on the B3 and keys. Raphael Wressnig won the Concerto Poll "Best jazz artist of the year" in 2007. In 2008 he released two albums: "Cut A Little Deeper On The Funk" and "(Don't Be) Afraid To Groove.

Raphael Wressnig tours extensively throughout the world with his various projects and is in demande by many top of the blues and soul-jazz artists throughout : Europe, Scandinavia, North Africa, Asia, Middle East and the Caribbean. Either as leader of his own group or sideman, Raphael has played the most renowned clubs such as New Morning/Paris, Lionel Hampton Club/Paris, Blue Note/Bienne, Quasimodo/Berlin, Stadtgarten/Köln, Moods/Zürich, Babylon/Istanbul, A-Trane/Berlin, Birdland/Vienna, Porgy & Bess/Vienna, Drop Inn/Cogenhagen, Le Jam/Montepellier, Crossroads/Antwerpen and many others. He has played the top festival stages including Bagneux Blues Festival (FR), Veneto Jazz Festival (IT), Bluesfestival Cordoba (ES), Jazzfest Wiesen (AT), Handzame Dilirium Festival (BE), Jazzfestival Abu Dhabi (AE), Jazz A Juan Les Pins (FR), Piazza Blues Festival (CH), Passions Festival Cognac (FR), Jazz in Catharge (TN), Efes Pilsen Blues Festival (TR), Abruzzo nel Blues (IT), Eddie Lang Jazz Festival (IT), Burnley International Blues Festival (GB), Great British R&B Festival Colne (GB), Terre de Blues Festival Guadelupe (GP), Sang a Klang (LUX), Jazzfest Wien (AT), Jazzfest Saalfelden (AT), Jazz sur les Pommiers (FR), Efes Blues Festival Moscow (RU), Efes Blues Festival St. Petersburg (RU), Jazz & others Bozen (IT), Jazz & Blues Festival Rapperswil (CH), Liburnia Jazz (HR) and many, many more. He has opened for some of biggest names in the music business such as Chucho Valdes (five-time Grammy winner and Cuba's premier pianist), Joe Cocker, Mavis Staples, Al Jarreau, Al Foster, Manu Katche, Dianne Reeves, Van Morrison, Randy Brecker, Lucky Peterson, Robben Ford, Roy Hargrove, Dr. John, Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings, James Blunt, Marcus Miller, Keith Jarrett and countless others.

Raphael Wressnig has been the recipient of several prizes and awards: including Concerto poll winner: "Best album blues" 2001 and "Best artist blues national" 2001 with the Blues Distillery and "Best album jazz" 2004 with his CD "In Between" and "Best jazz artist" 2007 and "Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik" in 2007 as well. He was elected "Organist of the month" in July 2006 by the International Archives For The Jazz Organ and was awarded 2nd prize in their overall jazz organ poll. He was one of the nominees of the prestigious "Hans Koller Preis" 2003 and the "French blues trophees" in the category "Claviers/Europe" 2005.

Alex Schultz

Alex was born in new york city in 1954, and at a young age became

immersed in the city’s legacy of jazz. Studied with guitarist George Barnes and at Berklee College of Music in boston. Early exposure to BB King, James Cotton and the Butterfield Blues Band planted seeds of a lifelong love of blues music.

Schultz moved to Los Angeles in 1979 and established himself as both a bass player and guitarist on the roots music scene, working for two and a half years with rock and roll/rhythm and blues pioneer Hank Ballard. This provided some early road experience, including playing Antone’s in Austin, Texas in 1986 and sharing stages with Jerry Lee Lewis, Albert Collins and many other greats.

Beginning 1986 worked with L.A. harmonica master William Clarke: recorded the W.C. Handy award winning album “Blowing Like Hell”, played and recorded with Smokey Wilson, and made appearances on all 4 of Clarke’s releases on chicago’s Alligator label.

This period saw gigs with a who’s-who of the los angeles roots music scene, including Coco Montoya, Debbie Davies, Finis Tasby, Steve Samuels, Rob Rio, and countless others.

In 1988 began a seven year, five record association with Rod Piazza & the Mighty Flyers, touring Australia, Japan, Europe and Scandinavia. Recordings included two albums on the Black Top label and “Live at BB King’s” recorded in Memphis. During this time the Flyers backed Jimmy Rogers, Lowell Fulsom, Louis Myers, Pine Top Perkins, James Cotton, Robert Ward, Earl King, Snooks Eaglin, Albert Collins, Larry Davis, etc. and supported the likes of Albert King, BB King, Al Green, Robert Cray, Dr. John, The Neville Bros., The Allman Bros. and more. Schultz left the group in ‘95 to pursue other projects as a free agent.

The first of these was a three year collaboration with blues rebel Lester Butler (ex- ‘Red Devils’ harmonica and vocals ) which resulted in the HighTone album “13 Featuring Lester Butler” and 4 european tours.

At the same time, Schultz appeared on two Delmark releases with old new york friend Tad Robinson, a collaboration that continues to the present day: co-producing and playing on Tad’s 2005 Handy nominated “Did You Ever Wonder” on the Severn label, numerous festival appearances in the U.S. and Europe, and playing on Tad’s upcoming (2007) release “A New Point Of View”.

A wide variety of freelance work has resulted in many recordings and tours, with artists including Italian harmonica player Egidio ‘Juke’ Ingala, Washington DC jump blues masters Big Joe & the Dynaflows, nu-swing band Royal Crown Revue, ‘Sax’ Gordon, Sugar Ray Norcia, Jimmy Morello, keyboardist Benjie Porecki, Kirk ‘Eli’ Fletcher, Mickey Champion, Frank ‘Paris Slim’ Goldwasser, Germany’s BB & the Blues Shacks, Italian guitarist Enrico Crivellaro and Austria’s Raphael Wressnig.

Finally, in october 2004, after playing on over 40 discs, Schultz’s first solo CD, “Think About It”, was released on the Severn label, bringing it all back home.