Nifty´s

line up

Dominik Grünbühel (bass)
Fabian Pollack (guitar)
Mathias Koch (drums, percussion)
Michael Bruckner-Weinhuber (guitar)
Thomas Berghammer (trumpet)

country:
Austria
style(s):
Fusion Klezmer
label:
cracked anegg
type:
Band, Composer/Songwriter
gender:
male
instrumentation:
instrumental
artist submitted by:
Triart

NIFTY's have established themselves in the Austrian world-music scene within a very short period of time: the rapid ascent of the five musicians is outlined by the Newcomer World-Music Prize 2006, CD release 2007, performances at "glatt & verkehrt" and the Saalfelden jazz festival, and the awarding of the "Artist of the Year 2007" title as part of "40 Jahre Oe1". On the occasion of their performance at "glatt & verkehrt," one music critic wrote that NIFTY's is arguably "Austria's hottest band". So who and what is NIFTY'S?
Firstly, five young musicians who each in their own way number amongst the most talented of their generation in Austria. "Unza music with an edge, up-tempo madness and improvisation" thus reads the band members' own description of their musical style. Folkloric traditions are not being plundered here: NIFTY's bow to the klezmer tradition is confidently juggled with a conglomerate of jazz, funk, underground rock, ska and punk. The result sounds more like New York than Vienna played as radically as it is elegantly with much room for improvisation, which the band members take up with virtuoso creative wit. Music to fill the heart and shake the legs of the audience.
The sound-defining centre ground is formed by Fabian Pollack's and Michael Bruckner's earthy yet playful guitars and Thomas Berghammer's expressionistic trumpet sequences. The solid foundations are provided by the strong drum and bass dialogues between Mathias Koch and Dominik Gruenbuehel.
NIFTY's mainly play their own compositions city music which the band saves from being pigeonholed into the usual categories; city music which makes the band a popular guest in clubs as well as at jazz or world-music festivals.

The band name refers to the Galician clarinettist Naftule "Nifty" Brandwein (1889-1963) who made klezmer music popular in the USA in the 1920s and who became known as the "king of klezmer music". Although Naftule couldn't read music, he still became famous for his intuitive musicality and the wild archaic energy he brought to the stage.

Fabian Pollack: completed his jazz guitar studies and is Nifty's main composer and arranger. Fabian loves unconventional genre crossovers and has a strong penchant for improvisation.

Michael Bruckner: works as guitarist, composer, soundcreator and architect in different projects from folkmusic to free experimental music. Forms a well-rehearsed guitar duo with Fabian also in some further formations (brpobr, Zur Wachauerin, Cappella con Durezza)

Thomas Berghammer: has dedicated himself to playing the trumpet and the piano since his teenage years and completed a course of studies on Instrumental and Vocal Pedagogy (IGP) in Jazz and Popular Music. Alongside Nifty's, Thomas is also active in the avant-garde jazz, impro- and world-music scene and values collaborations with visual and literary artists.

Dominik Gruenbuehel: Nifty's bassist and charming MC. Dominik completed training in contemporary dance in Vienna and London and can be seen freelancing in a few contemporary dance troupes and heard when with Nifty's.

Mathias Koch: Graduate of jazz drum studies; active in the world of jazz, free funk, rock and free improvisation; masters delicate rhythm patterns as well as ecstatic funk and rock grooves and plays in a few other jazz and funk ensembles.