Mario Gonzi

Univ.-Prof. Mario Gonzi is a renowned jazz drummer and professor at the Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna (MUK). Specializing in jazz percussion and ensemble performance, he has collaborated with legendary musicians such as Eddie 'Lockjaw' Davis, Art Farmer, and Paquito D’Rivera. He has performed globally, including at New York’s Blue Note and Sweet Basil clubs, and led drum sections in prestigious ensembles like the Vienna Art Orchestra and Hessischen Rundfunk Big Band. His teaching spans institutions in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland, including the Jazzschule Berlin and Swiss Jazz School Bern.

Education: Studied Jazz-Schlagzeug (Jazz Drums) at the MUK under Erich Bachträgl from an early age. Career Highlights: 14-year tenure with the European Art Farmer Quintet, participation in the Paquito D’Rivera Havanna–New York Ensemble (1989), and collaborations with artists like Wynton Marsalis and Joe Lovano. Awards: 2001 Koller Jazz Preis for 'Sideman of the Year.'

Research/Teaching: Focuses on jazz performance techniques, big band dynamics, and historical jazz traditions. His pedagogical contributions include workshops at institutions like the Jazzwoche Scheibbs and Musik-Akademie-Jazzschule Basel.