Wolfgang Muthspiel


Wolfgang Muthspiel is an Austrian jazz guitarist and record label owner. He is the brother of musician Christian Muthspiel.

Music career

When he was six, he began playing violin, and at fourteen he moved on to classical guitar. He went to the Berklee College of Music on a scholarship. Beginning in 1985, he recorded three albums with his brother Christian. He released his first solo album, Timezones, in 1989. For two years, he toured with Gary Burton and guitarist Mick Goodrick, one of his teachers at Berklee.
During the 1990s, Muthspiel lived in New York City and recorded more solo albums. His sidemen included Don Alias, Larry Grenadier, Tom Harrell, and Kenny Wollesen. He appeared as a guest on albums by Patricia Barber, Marc Johnson, Paul Motian, and Gary Peacock. He was the given the award for Austrian Jazz Musician of the Year in 1997. He founded his own label, Material Records, in 2000, and recorded again with his brother Christian and with Norwegian singer Rebekka Bakken.
He formed the MGT trio with Slava Grigoryan and Ralph Towner, another trio with Larry Grenadier and Brian Blade, and one with Brad Mehldau and Ambrose Akinmusire.
He has composed for the Austrian Esterházy Foundation, the Austrian Ministry of Arts, Benjamin Schmid, the Hugo Wolf Quartet, and the Klangforum Wien.

Discography

As leader

Timezones The Promise Black & Blue In & Out Loaded Like New Perspective Real Book Stories Bearing Fruit Steinhaus Solo Air, Love & Vitamins Bright Side Friendly Travelers Friendly Travelers Live Earth Mountain From a Dream Live at the Jazz Standard Drumfree Vienna Naked Driftwood Rising Grace Where the River Goes Angular Blues Dance of the Elders Etudes, Quietudes
  • ''Tokyo''

As sideman

With Christian MuthspielMuthspiel/Peacock/Muthspiel/Motian CY Play Parts of a Shattered Love Story Echoes of Techno
With Vienna Art OrchestraAmerican Rhapsody Duke Ellington's Sound of Love Artistry in Rhythm: A European Suite
With others