# Karl Ratzer: How a sir of Austrian jazz became a professor: Video, Photo

- Link: https://jazzblues.eu/2022/02/20/karl-ratzer-how-a-sir-of-austrian-jazz-became-a-professor-video-photo/
- Published: 2022-02-20T23:44:37+01:00
- Author: https://JazzBlues.EU

**The republic pays tribute to two jazz activists: About artists of this genre who
are supported by the state, from the USA to Vienna.**

I prefer to talk more at home than in public, but I would like to thank all my friends
and my wife.” Austria’s parade guitarist Karl Ratzer murmured after receiving the
certificate that entitles him to use the professional title “Professor”. He was 
touched. But after all the ups and downs of his life, such a late honor is just 
an ornament. In the 1960s he haunted drug dens like San Remo (now Camera Club) with
his beat band Slaves, accompanied heroin-addicted trumpeter Chet Baker in the 1980s
and often stumbled because of his demons. It was unimaginable at the time that he
would one day be honored by the state.

In general, state honors for jazz musicians, who seldom recommend themselves through
bourgeois lifestyles, are a fairly recent affair. In the USA, people used to recognize
the magic of jazz, which also propagated the free, American lifestyle. From 1958
onwards the State Department practiced something like jazz diplomacy. It sent grandees
like Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman and Dave Brubeck out into the world
to promote the American way of life. Richard Nixon honored Duke Ellington with the
Freedom Medal, the highest civilian honor, in 1969. Jimmy Carter became the first
US President to host a jazz festival on the South Lawn of the White House. In addition
to consensus musicians, he also brought in proven avant-gardists such as Cecil Taylor
and Ornette Coleman.

Would something like that also be conceivable in Vienna? Christoph Huber, maître
of the jazz club Porgy & Bess and laudator for Ratzer, says yes and refers to the
jazz affinity of the last three Austrian federal presidents. Thomas Klestil was 
not only a friend of Joe Zawinul, but also one who loved the genre. Likewise Heinz
Fischer, who liked to turn up at Ahmad Jamal and Cassandra Wilson concerts in the
pre-election period. And finally Alexander Van der Bellen, who asked Ornette Coleman
for fresh jazz at a book presentation held at the Porgy about 20 years ago.

**Very different from Bob Dylan**

Although jazz enjoys an image as resistant music, its protagonists are happy to 
be officially hugged. Not so Bob Dylan, who kept his sunglasses on when Barack Obama
put the Peace Medal on his head. Or the local electronica duo Kruder & Dorfmeister,
who didn’t have time for 14 years to accept the Golden Medal of Merit from the State
of Vienna (the time had come in 2017). In France, deserving artists, including foreign
artists, are included in the Legion of Honour; in Great Britain they are ennobled
by the Queen or Prince Charles or at least awarded an OBE (Order of the British 
Empire). Even representatives of the angry working class become tame. Ray Davis 
from the Kinks, for example, or the blustering Van Morrison. Mick Jagger, too, buckled
as the monarchy’s saber pounded on his shoulder. Keith Richards opposed. Like the
Queen herself, who took sick leave – Prince Charles had to take over.

“We have long called Ratzer Sir Karl. Now the Republic is following suit,” joked
Huber, who received the Cross of Honor for services to science and art. Finally,
Ratzer intoned Gershwin’s “I Loves You, Porgy.” The initially hesitantly played,
somewhat disheveled Blue Notes nestled together elegantly at the end.

![](https://i0.wp.com/media.diepresse.com/images/uploads/1/0/8/6091016/77BCFCE5-
B98A-47EF-BAFC-A2F27F8D7DD8_1643218235140739.jpg?w=640&ssl=1)

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