Hans Koller

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Hans (Antonio Hans Cyrill) Koller (February 12, 1921 – December 22, 2003) was one of the best known Austrian Jazz musicians and an abstract painter.

Koller was born in Vienna. A saxophone prodigy, he immediately impressed the faculty of the Vienna Music Academy upon his arrival at the age of 14. Within a few years he was playing professionally in swing and dance bands. In 1941 Koller was drafted into the Nazi army and spent most time as prisoner of war in a US-American camp. Following his release in 1946 he founded a band called the Hot Club Vienna.

Later Koller performed with Horst Winter's band before moving to Germany, where he came into his own individual style. After some time working in drummer Freddie Brocksieper's septet, Koller formed his quartet with pianist Jutta Hipp, bassist Shorty Roeder and drummer Karl Sanner. The group was one of Europe's most popular units in the early 1950s (recording Hans Is Hip, 1952; "5 stars" by Down Beat). Trombonist Albert Mangelsdorff became member of his band in 1953. In 1959 his quartet included guitarist Attila Zoller and two US-American expatriates, drummer Kenny Clarke and bassist Oscar Pettiford, were members of the quartet.

Koller had frequent contact with American jazzmen beginning with arranger Eddie Sauter, with whom he worked in the Baden-Baden Radio Orchestra. Gigs followed with Zoot Sims, Dizzy Gillespie, Lee Konitz, Stan Kenton, and even Benny Goodman, with whom Koller played at the 1958 World's Fair in Brussels. That same year he became the musical director of Radio Hamburg's Jazz Workshop. He was acclaimed best soloist at the 1960 jazz festival Antibes.

His trio recording with Zoller and French pianist Martial Solal, brought Koller further critical acclaim. He occasionally worked on interdisciplinary projects as well, like his 1968 ballet, New York City. Koller was based in Hamburg through the 1960s, working as musical director of the municipal theatre in 1968/1969. In 1970 he returned to Austria and began exploring free jazz and fusion music with Zbigniew Seifert in his Free Sound Ensemble. Koller's subsequent projects included a trio with Zoller and Roland Hanna, soloing a brass ensemble International Brass Company, different duos, mainstream combos, and an all-sax unit.

Koller retired from performing music in 1995, opting to concentrate on painting. In gratitude for his years of service, Austria named its national jazz prize after him in 1996.

Koller died in Vienna at the age of 82.

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