The Vienna Art Orchestra was a European jazz group based in Vienna, Austria. Organized at different times as either a big band or as a smaller combo, it was regarded as one of the leading European jazz ensembles and was an official cultural ambassador of the Republic of Austria.

History Founded in 1977 by director and composer Mathias Rüegg, the band started out by performing Rüegg's postmodern compositions on stages throughout Europe. Among the founding musicians were singer Lauren Newton, saxophonists Wolfgang Puschnig and Harry Sokal, trombone player Christian Radovan, tuba player Jon Sass, and mallet percussionist Woody Schabata. In 1980, the ensemble signed a recording contract with the Swiss hatART label, and in 1984 they toured the United States for the first time.

The group essentially disbanded for a brief period at the end of the 1980s. In 1992, the VAO opened a new phase with a smaller complement of musicians. The band played fewer of Rüegg's compositions and concentrated on arrangements of works by Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus, and other noted American jazz composers, as well as music inspired by the classical music of Verdi, Wagner, Schubert, and Erik Satie.

In 1997, the ensemble's personnel changed once again, increasing in size and adding younger musicians. New compositions by Rüegg became a regular feature of VAO concerts, which often included visual and dramatic elements.

The Vienna Art Orchestra has performed more than 800 concerts and released more than 35 recordings. The film An Echo from Europe: Vienna Art Orchestra on Tour by Othmar Schmiderer was released in 1998.

The ensemble was nominated for an Amadeus Austrian Music Award in 2001 for the album All That Strauss, and again in 2003 for Art and Fun.

On July 10, 2010, Mathias Rüegg announced that the Vienna Art Orchestra had been disbanded for financial reasons.

Discography Vienna Art Orchestra Album Label Year Jessas Na!Extraplatte EXS 15 (Single)1977Tango from ObangoExtraplatte EX 10 (LP)1979Concerto Piccolohat ART 6038 (CD)1981Suite for the Green Eightieshat ART 6054 (CD)1982From No Time to Rag Timehat ART 6073 (CD)1983The Minimalism of Erik Satiehat ART 6024 (CD)1984A Notion in Perpetual Motionhat ART 6096 (CD)1985Jazzbühne Berlin 85Amiga Jazz 856 16816 10M (LP)1986Nightride of a Lonely SaxophoneplayerMoers Music 02054/5 (2 CD)1986Inside OutMoers Music 02062/3 (2 CD)1987Two Little AnimalsMoers Music 02066 (CD)1988Blues for Brahmsamadeo 839 105-2 (2 CD)1989Innocence of Clichésamadeo 841 646-2 (2 CD)1990Chapter IIamadeo 849 066-2 (CD)1991The Highlights 77-89 Live in Viennaamadeo 513 325-2 (2 CD)1992standing... WHAT?amadeo 519 816-2 (CD)1993The Original Charts of Duke Ellington & Charles MingusVerve 521 998-2 (CD)1994European SongbookVerve 527 672-2 (CD)1995Vienna Art Orchestra 20th Anniversary:Verve 537 095-2 (3 CD)1997 1) Powerful Ways: Nine Immortal NonEvergreens for Eric DolphyVerve 537 096-2 2) Quiet Ways: BalladsVerve 537 097-2 3) Unexpected Ways: M Concerto for Voice & SilenceVerve 537 098-2Tango from Obango (special ed. with bonus CD):Extraplatte EX 10-2 (3 CD)1997 1) Tango from ObangoExtraplatte EX 010 097-2 A 2) Two Songs for Another Lovely War / Jessas Na!Extraplatte EX 010 097-2 BAmerican RhapsodyRCA Victor 0902663-227-21998Duke Ellington's Sound Of LoveTCB 998021999All That StraussTCB 200522000Artistry in RhythmTCB 011022000A Centenary JourneyQuinton Q01042001ART & FUNUniversal Music Emarcy 017 072-22002Duke Ellington’s Sound of Love Vol. 2Universal Music Emarcy 06024986541942003Big Band PoesieUniversal Music Emarcy 986771-02004Swing & AffairsUniversal Music Emarcy 987446920053Universal Music 06025 172 287-9 52007All That Strauss Vol. 2Art Records 10022007Third DreamExtraplatte Extraplatte EX 998-22009Third Dream - Limited EditionVAO-Shop Extraplatte EX 999-22009

Vienna Art Special Album Label YearSerapionmusicMoers Music 02050 (LP)1986Two Songs for Another Lovely WarExtraplatte, EX ED 001 (LP)1988Swiss Art OrchestraMGB 9201 (CD)1992Fe & Malesamadeo 513 328-2 (CD)1992Plays for Jean CocteauVerve 529 290-2 (CD)1996

Vienna Art Choir Album Label YearFrom No Art to Mo-(z)-ArtMoers Music 02002 (CD)1983Five Old SongsMoers Music 02036 (CD)1985Swiss SwingMoers Music 02060 (CD)1987

Vienna Art Orchestra with Ernst Jandl Album Label Yearbist eulen?Extraplatte EX 316 141 (CD)1984vom vom zum zumExtraplatte EX 316 145 (CD)1988lieber ein saxophonExtraplatte EX 316 153 (CD)1991

See also

List of experimental big bands

References

External links Vienna Art Orchestra official website Mathias Rüegg official website Vienna Art Orchestra unofficial discography (with details taken from actual LPs/CDs) - https://vao.neocities.org/