Austrian Syndicate
David Helbock: Rhodes, Synthesizer, Effects | Peter Madsen: piano | Claudio Spieler: percussion | Raphael Preuschl: bass | Herbert Pirker: drums |
With Austrian Syndicate pianist David Helbock has put together a true Austrian all-star quintet. Together he, the percussionist Claudio Spieler – who studied with Afghan master drummer Hakim Ludin and has performed as guest at major venues alongside Konstantin Wecker and Martin Grubinger – as well as his musical Random/control companion of many years Raphael Preuschl and Herbert Pirker and Peter Madsen follow the footsteps of the great Joe Zawinul and his famous Zawinul Syndicate band. Like the Weather-Report founder, Helbock here plays solely e-piano, keyboards, and synthesiser. Together, the five powerfully and humorously combine retro soul, high performance jazz and future sounds to form a rousing groove explosion.
Artist biography David Helbock
For years the 39-year-old pianist David Helbock from Vorarlberg has been an established figure of the European jazz scene. In 2007, and again in 2010, he won the jury and audience prizes at the Jazz Piano Contest in Montreux, in 2011 he received the “Outstanding Artist Award”, and the “relentless explorer on the pulse of time” (3sat Kulturzeit) successfully took part in the Munich BMW World Jazz Award. For a long time, the success was based on his trio Random/Control which exists in two versions. However, recently the ACT artist has performed at all the major clubs and festivals – both solo with a tribute to John Williams and particularly in a duo with French vocal star Camille Bertault.