Robert Unterköfler
Robert Unterköfler is an Austrian saxophonist, composer and educator. Besides thesaxophone as his main-instrument, he also plays clarinet, flute & electronic wind nstruments Robert began his jazz studies at the Konservatorium Klagenfurt. He holds a Bachelordegree from the Musik und Kunst Privatuniversität der Stadt Wien (MUK) and alsostudied in Groningen and Rotterdam. He holds a masters degree in Music Educationfrom Jam Music Lab University, which was part of the Oe1 Jazz scholarship he won in 2018.Besides his role as a band leader (Rote Welt Quartett, river, zwölf nach vier, sidrat) heis part of Christian Muthspiels Orjazztra Vienna, the Valentin Duit Quartett, the trioslowklang and many more. Robert has won the first Oe1 Jazz scholarship and was honored with the Bruno Gironcoli Würdigungspreis der Stadt Villach and is currently part of the Austrian Music Export program NASOM.
Artistic activity
Robert Unterköfler works as an instrumentalist, composer, arranger and bandleader. His own projects include Rote Welt #2, river, Robert Unterköfler Solo-Performance, slowklang, Rote Welt #1 and zwölf nach vier.
Since 2025: Rote Welt #2 | Jazz, improvisation
Since 2022: river | Modern jazz, fusion
Releases: Chameleon Circuit (2024), four pieces on Nina Feldgrill (2025), three pieces with Alex Sipiagin (EP)
Concerts: Porgy & Bess, Outreach Festival, Herbstgold Festival, Take The A Train Festival, ORF Radiokulturhaus and others.
Since 2021: Robert Unterköfler Solo-Performance | Jazz, free improvisation
Release: sidrat (2021)
Concerts: Strenge Kammer / Porgy & Bess, ZWE, Villa For Forest, Kultursommer Wien, Impro Parcours and others.
Since 2021: slowklang with Amina Bouroyen and Robin Gadermaier | Jazz, ArtPop
Release: Mindscapes (2024)
Concerts: Porgy & Bess, ACF Warsaw, Podlasie SlowFest, Himara International Music Festival, Shkodra Jazz Festival and others.
2018–2020: Rote Welt #1 | Jazz, improvisation
Release: Rote Welt (2018)
Concerts: ORF Radiokulturhaus, Kammerlichtspiele, Villa For Forest, Pro Musica Carinthia, ZWE and others.
2013–2021: zwölf nach vier | Jazz, improvisation
Release: Traum #1 (2015)
Concerts: Jazzwerkstatt Graz Festival, Jazzwerkstatt Wien Festival, Werkjam Freiburg, Kulturhof Villach, ORF Radiokulturhaus and others.
Engagements / Sideman / Big Band / Theatre
2024 / 2025: Woodstock All Star Band
2024 / 2025: Ivar Roban Križić “IRK MetaForm”
2023: China tour with Andreas Varady & Lexy Weaver
2023: Impro Parcours – Solo Performance
Since 2022: Valentin Duit Quartett
2021–2022: Asatrian / Gadermaier / Kocnik / Unterköfler Quartett
Since 2021: Uli Datlers Stingfluenced
2021 / 2023 / 2025: JAMLab Allstar Band featuring Peter Erskine
2018: JAM-Quintett featuring Rex Richardson
2017: Liberati Quartet, Eduardo Liberati Italy tour
2017: Valentin Duits Trabanten
2014–2016: Grote and Kaiju
Big Band projects
Since 2024: Emiliano Sampaio Jazz Orchestra
2024: Peter Lenz Large Ensemble
2024 / 2025: Christoph Suttner Big Band
Since 2021: Tobias Hoffmann Big Band
2022: Notes & Tones Big Band
2019–2025: Christian Muthspiels Orjazztra Vienna
2014 / 2015: All Ellington Group Amsterdam
Since 2007: Kelag Big Band
Theatre productions
2020: Musical Cabaret, Stadttheater Klagenfurt
2018: Musical 3 Musketiere, Winzendorf
2017: Musical Gypsy, Stadttheater Klagenfurt
2015: Musical Victor/Victoria, Stadttheater Klagenfurt
Discography / Releases, selection
2025: Nina Feldgrill – Nina Feldgrill, Quinton Records
2025: Orjazztra Vienna – Vom Jandln zum Ernst, col legno
2025: Valentin Duit Quartett – SINN/ist, Klanggalerie
2025: Christoph Suttner Big Band – Metallurgy, ATS Records
2024: river – Chameleon Circuit, SkyDeck Music
2024: slowklang – mindscapes, Jazzwerkstatt Wien
2024: Emiliano Sampaio Jazz Orchestra – Viva!, Edition Ö1
2024: Bartus / Unterköfler – Synergy, Quinton Records
2024: Peter Erskine – Bernstein in Vienna, Origin Records
2024: Jim Rotondi Big Band – Finesse, Cellar Live
2024: Tobias Hoffmann – Innuendo, Mons Records
2023: Orjazztra Vienna – La Melodia della Strada, col legno
2023: Unterköfler / Feldgrill – Turn Left, Rote Welt Records
2022: Robert Unterköfler Solo – Sidrat, Rote Welt Records
2022: Tobias Hoffmann – Conspiracy, Mons Records
2022: Unterköfler / Feldgrill – Who Knew?, Rote Welt Records
2021: Orjazztra Vienna – Homecoming (live), col legno
2021: Kelag Big Band – Newspaper, self-publication
2018: Robert Unterköfler Quintett – Rote Welt, Rote Welt Records
2015: zwölf nach vier – Traum #1, Freifeld Records
2015: Grote and Kaiju – Unshine, Freifeld Records
Prizes / Awards
2025 / 2026: NASOM Artist with slowklang
2023: Impro Parcours #3
2022: Bruno Gironcoli Würdigungspreis der Stadt Villach
2018: Ö1 Jazz scholarship
Picture (c) Arid Omivar