Jazz&: Synesthetic4

Synesthetic4 was founded by Vincent Pongracz and Peter Rom in 2017. Since then the quartet made its mark on the European scene with shows at Jazzfest Saalfelden, Ljubljana Jazzfestival, Jazzwerkstatt Bern, April Jazz, and Orbit Jazz Johannesburg among others. Their first album “Pickedem” was presented at wiener Konzerthaus in 2019. The program which atmospherically combines elements of Contemporary Music, Jazz, Funk and Electronic Music moves “confidently from frenzy to humourous wit” (© Tom Gsteiger). The band providing for “colourful cineastics” and “creative vituosity” (©Austrian Sounds) also features Manu Mayr on bass and Andreas Lettner on drums. For Pickedem they received the German Record Critics Award. In June 2022 they released their second studio album „Ahwowha“.

An important part of their music are complex but catchy rhythms that originate from hip hop, contemporary groove and electronic music and give the quartet’s sound an urban characteristic. „Dada-Rap“ and abstractly folkloristic melodies that are sometimes inspired by the music of Olivier Messiaen are meant to leave a humoristic or even bizarre impression on the listener. The improvisations move between Jazz and contemporary classic. The specialty of the band is the way aesthetic components are put together, the balance of profane and sophisticated musical elements and their aspirations to combine avantgarde-artistic values with quality entertainment. An important addition to their musical body of work are their music videos productions, in which the band members often play different characters and perform rhythmic choreographies that are precisely arranged to fit the music. In 2024 the band receives the first Austrian Jazz Prize in the category „Best Live Act“.