Jazz Articles

Walter Fischbacher: Moments

by C. Michael Bailey
September 29, 2019

Austrian-American pianist Walter Fischbacher has been a steady New York City presence for over 20 years. He is one half of a NYC music power duo, the other half being vocalist (and his wife) Elisabeth Lohninger. Together, the pair make records and ran Lofish Studios, which transitioned to Lofish Music in 2015. He is involved in several different projects at any one time, one of them being his solo performance as on the present Moments. Fischbacher's pianism on ...

Lohninger and Fischbacher: Soul Garden

by C. Michael Bailey
April 29, 2017

Austrian-American musicians Elisabeth Lohninger and Walter Fischbacher have been an integral part of the New York City jazz community for closing in on 20 years. In that time, the creative pair have contributed to the urban musical terrain by running their Lofish Recording Studios until 2015 and releasing a series of well-received recordings. These include: Beneath the Surface (Lofish, 2004); The Only Way Out is Up (Lofish, 2007); Songs of Love and Destruction (Lofish, 2010); Christmas in July (Lofish, 2011), ...

Elisabeth Lohninger Quartet: Live

by C. Michael Bailey
November 28, 2012

Austrian-American Renaissance woman Elisabeth Lohninger is many things. She is a singer, composer, producer, writer, teacher and studio owner. Over the past several years Lohninger has found time to record four collections with her quartet: Beneath Your Surface (Lofish, 2005), The Only Way Out is Up (Lofish, 2007), Songs of Love and Destruction (Lofish, 2010), and Christmas in July (Jazz Sick, 2011). All of these recordings were well conceived and received, and the fate of the present Live should be ...

Elisabeth Lohninger: Songs of Love and Destruction

by C. Michael Bailey
August 28, 2010

Austrian-American Elisabeth Lohninger is emerging as a major creative force in jazz vocals. Her previous release, The Only Way Out is Up (Lofish, 2007), was well-received and displayed a talent both fully formed and evolving. Her first recording, Beneath The Surface (Lofish, 2004) was noted for the singer's “stylistic fluency and versatility." Versatile might be the key operative in describing Lohninger. Polyglot in language and jazz styles, she is at home in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and, ...

Elisabeth Lohninger: The Only Way Out Is Up

by Michael P. Gladstone
April 27, 2007

This is an ambitious second album from Austrian-born, New York-based jazz vocalist Elisabeth Lohninger. With a background in both classical music and jazz, Lohninger sings fluently in three languages and, in addition to her 2004 debut album, has written original film scores as well as music for television. Her partnership with pianist Walter Fischbacher as the duo The Perfect Roomates is yet another venture for the singer. Finally, Lohninger is a familiar part of the downtown New York jazz scene ...

Elisabeth Lohninger: The Only Way Out is Up

by C. Michael Bailey
March 2, 2007

Austria is the mother source for composers. One of the latest progeny from the land of golden eighth notes is vocalist/composer Elisabeth Lohninger. Lohninger has been performing from an early age, beginning her career at age six, performing Austrian folk songs with her sisters. It did not take long for her to venture in other directions, leading her to study classical and jazz, achieving a Masters Degree in music, English language and literature. This blend of education is perfectly manifested ...

Elisabeth Lohninger Quartet: Beneath Your Surface

by William Grim
July 30, 2005

Austrian-born but New York-based Elisabeth Lohninger is a first rate singer and talented composer. Backed by a superb rhythm section, Lohninger delivers impressive performances on Beneath Your Surface. Singing in English, French, and German, Lohninger displays an extraordinary stylistic fluency and versatility.

Lohninger herself composed most of the songs. I was particularly impressed with “I Remember," a beautiful ballad about the fleeting nature of love which features a highly chromatic melody with difficult intervals and a lot of ...