Ostinato

Listen to samples of all songs!! (Deutsch weiter unten)
You could call Ostinato one of the rare Austrian REAL-Jazz-Rock bands! It played in many different formations, always featuring some of the best musicians of Austria!March 2006 Tommy Böröcz and Rens Newland –the two heads of Ostinato in the 80s and 90s - decided to resurrect this legendary Latin-Funk-Fusion Band, to bring out a „Best Of“ CD and of course to make concerts again.The interesting history of the group began in the 70s:1974 it was founded by Tommy Böröcz und Claudius Jelinek. Further members of the group: Hannes Seidl (later part of Minisex) on keyboards and Gogo Weinberger on bass. Percussion was needed and the young talent Andy Steirer was the right man. In the beginning phase the band was satisfied by covering the „Heroes“ of that time, like Billy Cobham, Herbie Hancock etc. . But then a first single with funky music was released: Get On Up! And 1975 they were given the opportunity to make a tour through Argentine, Uruguay und Brasil! Under quite hard circumstances (traveling by boat etc.) they made it to South America and there was a series of Concerts and Sessions with local popular musicians. Inspired, not-to-say set in fire by the Brazilian music, Tommy Böröcz started writing new own pieces. resulting in an interesting mix of Latin and Funk. To make more power and glance, horns were added: The first section: Bobby Dodge (tb) und Harry Sokal. Peter Ponger took over on keyboard, Peter Paul Skrepek on guitar. The trumpet of Bumi Fian joined the hornsection, Wolfgang Puschnig on alto saxophone replaced the trombone and with the approved Harry Sokal on tenor sax this would be the standard configuration for he future. The Austrian club circuit was done in certain intervals. 1981 it was time for refreshing and Tommy Böröcz asked Rens Newland (the two already played together here and there with the several Rens Newland Combos) to come into the band, and Rens accepted the invitation. In Holland Rens Newland already had some bands with horn section and he had actually really enough of the (ORF) Big Band sound! On bass Heinz Jäger, on piano Robert Schönherr, who was alternating with Robert Kastler. The first album „Ostinato“ was released (1983, with the famous „baby cover „– it’s showing Isabella Schrammel, daughter of Christine Jones – allied with Carmel Jones) and now the big festivals started to be interested! Legendary was the concert in Velden (where the band stuck out even over the great international bands). Also Wiesen and several other. Two times a year they did a tour on the most important clubs of Austria and South Germany. Because part of the players were also doing the successful Vienna Art Orchestra project, it became necessary to look for alternative musicians, that was done and resulted in the next line-up: Klaus Dickbauer(as), Martin Fuss(ts), Andy Haderer(tp) was the new Horn section. Bass went to Albert Kreuzer, piano to Harry Gansberger. With these musicians 1985 the next album „Slowwalker“ was recorded, on which contrary to the first album (90% Böröcz) now also Rens Newland brought around half of the compositions and arrangements. In this period also the recordings for „Having Fun“ with Gina Charles (later called Gina Charito), as where Willi Langer took over on bass for the vocal and the instrumental program. With Gina the group had a more commercial, funky, poppy „side track“, and they did a lot of concerts. Now the medium CD came und after a short period with Aaron Wonesch on piano, Rudi Mille joined the band as keyboarder and engineer as well. Robert Riegler took over on bass, Thomas Huber on alto sax. Also Bumi Fian rejoined the band (Andy Haderer changed the WDR Big Band!). The album „Pump Up The Horns“ (1991) came out. On this one also the new possibilities of sequencer und synthesizer were exploited Small tours and festivals followed (a.o. Sunsplash at Wiesen). For the time being 1995 the most jazzy Album followed: „Modern Line Event“, released by BMG, here we have Niki Friesenbichler on trumpet, and after a long absence (caused by Ludwig Hirsch Tours etc.) also Andy Steirer plays again. On this CD, as on „Pump Up The Horns“, the bigger part of the compositions is done by Rens Newland. 1994 the 20-years anniversary concert in Metropol happened, which unexpectedly also got to a farewell concert: the changing club and radio structure and logically certain detritions made the two leaders to end up or at least make a break with the project. Questions again and again, if the group still exists and when there will be concerts or CDs, plus a little distance recovery, gave the impulse and the courage to start it again!
ReUnion der österreichischen Funk-Jazz-Rock-Latin Band der 70er
Ostinato ist in der Musik eine sich ständig wiederholende Figur, egal ob rhythmischer oder melodischer Natur. In der salopperen Welt des Jazz heißt man so etwas Vamp, im Funk nennt man es Groove. Tommy Böröcz und Claudius Jelinek, die 1974 eine österreichische Formation gleichen Namens gründeten, wußten was sie wollten: vertrackte und verspielte Soli, eingebettet in infektiöse Grooves aus Jazz, Latin und Funk. Zuerst empfand man lustvoll nach, was Granden des Fusion-Genres ausheckten, etwa Billy Cobham oder Herbie Hancock. "Get On Up" hieß die erste Funksingle von Ostinato und bald schon forderte man das Publikum während einer strapaziösen Südamerikatournee zum Hüfteschwingen auf. Danach wurden Ostinato um eine Bläsersektion u.a. mit dem jungen Wolfgang Puschnig, Trompeter Bumi Fian und Harry Sokal erweitert. 1981 stieß der Gitarrist Rens Newland dazu und begann ab 1983 auch superbe Alben wie "Ostinato-The Baby" und "Slow Walker" einzuspielen. Nach mannigfaltigen Soloaktivitäten entschlossen sich Tommy Böröcz und Rens Newland im März 2006 das Alte wieder hochleben zu lassen. Sie brachten ein "Best-Of"-Album ihrer vier Vinyl-Alben auf den Markt und starten nun auch live wieder neu durch. Nun können auch Nachgeborene die legendären Pioniere österreichischer Fusion live erleben. Caution hot!
Ostinato Best Of Vinyl & Live JM 2056-2
Im März 2006 haben die 2 Leader Tommy Böröcz (d, comp) und Rens Newland (g, comp) beschlossen diese legendäre Band wieder aufleben zu lassen. Ostinato war Ende der 70-er, 80-er, bis Anfang der 90-er in Österreich der Inbegriff für aufregenden Latin-Funk-Jazz in höchster Qualität, gefragt bei den großen Festivals und viel unterwegs in den Clubs(auch D und Schw.). Typisch am Sound sind die Bläser-Riffs und der starke und sehr präzise Rhythmus. Durch die Jahre haben einige der großen Musiker Österreichs sich beteiligt: Bumi Fian (tp), Wolfgang Puschnig (as), Peter Ponger (p), Harri Sokal (ts), Andy Haderer (tp), Willi Langer (b), Klaus Dickbauer (as), Martin Fuss (ts), Aaron Wonesch (p), Andy Steirer (perc), Robert Riegler (b)..... In der Zeit wurden 3 Vinylalbums und 2 CDs herausgebracht. Nun gibt es eine fantastische Neuauflage der Band mit alten und neuen Gesichter für live und mit Plänen für neuen genialen Recordings!