Jazz Articles about Wolfgang Schalk

Wolfgang Schalk: From Here to There

by Mark F. Turner
September 11, 2016

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 ...

Wolfgang Schalk: Word of Ear

by Mark F. Turner
August 31, 2012

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 ...

Wolfgang Schalk: Wanted

by John Barron
September 27, 2008

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 ...

Wolfgang Schalk: Wanted

by Mark F. Turner
September 22, 2008

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 ...

Wolfgang Schalk: Space Messengers

by Mark F. Turner
October 25, 2005

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. ...

Wolfgang Schalk: Space Messengers

by AAJ Staff
October 13, 2005

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 ...

Wolfgang Schalk: Rainbows In The Night

by Mark F. Turner
January 5, 2003

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 ...