Polwechsel formed in 1993, an all Austrian quartet - with trombonist Radu Malfatti. When he left in 1997, John Butcher joined them to record Polwechsel 2. The group has worked with compositions, improvisation and the ambiguity/intersection of these methods - and performed in Germany, Austria, Poland, Italy, USA and Canada. In 2002/3 they recorded (Wrapped Islands) and toured with laptop player and guitarist Christian Fennez.


In 2003, Burkhard Stangl left the group and, after a gap of a year, percussionists Martin Brandlmayr and Burkhard Beins were invited to form a new version.

In May 2005 the group were 'artists in residence' at Tesla, Berlin - and a recording of the pieces devised there has been released as Archives of the North.

In 2007 the performed, and recorded two compositions with pianist John Tilbury. A CD of this is due soon.
After 10 years in the group, John Butcher has recently left - and Polwechsel continues as a 4-tet.

L-R
Martin Brandlmayr - Michael Moser
Burkhard Beins - John Butcher - Werner Dafeldecker

Archives of the North

full info :: Erstwhile

read :: Fake Jazz :: Stylus :: Ink 19

full info :: Durian

read :: allmusic

Polwechsel 2

full info :: hat[now]ART

read :: Ink Blot