Fritz Pauer

One of Europe's foremost jazz pianists, Fritz Pauer delivered performances marked by warm sophistication and a style that blended swinging hard bop with adventurous free jazz. He first gained notice in the 1960s as a member of Art Farmer's ensemble and later collaborated with an array of prominent figures. Beginning in the 1970s he combined his concert work with university-level instruction, issuing recordings such as Blues Inside Out in 1978, City Blues in 1996, and Moods from Wonderland in 2008.

Born in Vienna in 1943, Pauer took up jazz during his teenage years alongside Hans Koller and Friedrich Gulda. He subsequently formed his own ensembles in Berlin. In 1966 he attracted broader recognition by securing first prize at the Competition for Modern Jazz in Vienna. There he encountered flügelhornist and contest juror Art Farmer, who promptly engaged him for his group. Additional musicians took note, leading Pauer to perform extensively for the remainder of the decade with figures including Dexter Gordon, Don Byas, Klaus Weiss, and Booker Ervin. In 1967 he appeared on the concert recording Annie Ross & Pony Poindexter, captured at the German Jazz Festival Frankfurt. He also collaborated with Carmell Jones, featured on the 1969 festival concert album Carmell Jones in Europe.

While maintaining his performing schedule, Pauer entered education as an instructor at the Vienna Municipal Conservatory from 1968 to 1970. His own discography expanded during the following decade with the releases Water Plants in 1977 and Blues Inside Out in 1978. During the 1980s he resided for a period in Peru before establishing residence in Switzerland in 1986. The next year he rejoined Farmer on the album Azure and sustained their association for the rest of his career. Pauer later returned to Austria and taught for many years at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz. He remained active, producing further recordings such as New York Meeting in 2000 alongside the aforementioned City Blues and Moods from Wonderland. Pauer died in 2012 at age 69. The archival release 3 for the Road, drawn from a 2001 trio session with singer Jay Clayton and trombonist Ed Neumeister, appeared in 2020.