Guillermo Gregorio

Born in Argentina during the early 1940s, Gregorio moved frequently, spending time in Los Angeles for studies with saxophonist Warne Marsh and later in Vienna before establishing residence in Chicago. His relocation from California to Vienna during the late 1980s led to an encounter and subsequent partnership with free jazz flügelhornist Franz Koglmann. Through this connection the Swiss hatART label took notice, issuing his debut recording Approximately in 1996, followed by Ellipsis and Background Music on the imprint’s hatOLOGY subsidiary.

Raised in Buenos Aires, Gregorio drew initial inspiration from the early jazz clarinet styles of Pee Wee Russell and Jimmy Noone before turning to the work of pianist Lennie Tristano and associates, whose cool aesthetic shaped his later approach alongside the influence of Ornette Coleman’s innovations. He pursued studies in modern classical composition together with art and architecture, fields in which he has also practiced professionally while instructing Art Appreciation at Purdue University. During the 1960s he engaged in experimental music activities throughout Buenos Aires, with portions of that output preserved on the Atavistic collection Otra Musica: Tape Music, Fluxus & Free Improvisation in Buenos Aires 1963-70.