JAM Music Lab Vice Rector Monika Herzig Conquers US Charts with "Transparent"
The new album "Transparent" by our Vice Rector for Diversity and International Affairs, Univ.-Prof. Dr. Monika Herzig, is currently causing a historic stir in the international jazz world. In its fourth week of release, the work has already climbed to No. 14 in the US Radio Charts – heading straight for the Top 10.
Such success in the USA is something unique so far for JAM MUSIC LAB Private University and underscores the great relevance of our faculty within the music industry. As a Professor of Artistic Research, she embodies the ideal of the researching artist. Conquering the US charts directly from her academic environment proves to our students that artistic excellence and global market success are inextricably linked. Through her deep roots in the US scene, she acts as a vital bridge-builder. She connects the Vienna location directly with the global centers of jazz, creating unique opportunities for the international exchange of our students.
"Transparent": A Musical Statement for Change
The album title "Transparent" is a play on words that connects Herzig's experience as a "Trans-Parent" (parent of a transgender child) with the demand for "Clarity" (clarity and transparency in composition). Supported by the renowned Jazz Road Creative Residency Award 2025, Herzig processes the emotional phases of this transformation process in eleven tracks – including a reimagining of Elton John's "Your Song".
"Transparent" is characterized by a technically sophisticated yet accessible language. Herzig uses complex time signatures, which are however grounded by a flowing "Delicate Groove". The selection of fellow musicians underscores the story of the album. With Ted Nash (Lead Alto of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra), who also shares experiences as a "Trans-Parent", the album gains an additional layer of thematic depth and allyship. Today, the music industry is increasingly measured by whether it takes up social debates. Monika Herzig shows leadership here. As Vice Rector, she underscores with her actions that JAM MUSIC LAB Private University in Vienna is a place that does not only discuss inclusion theoretically but articulates it artistically. Our students learn first-hand how to translate a complex, personal topic into a marketable, artistically excellent production. "Transparent" is therefore also a didactic model for modern music entrepreneurship.
