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CHRISTIAN DOZZLER
"two meters of Blues"

More than thirty years on the blues-scene have provided the multi-instrumentalist Christian Dozzler (vocals, piano, harmonica, organ, accordion), a.k.a. "Two Meters of Blues" because of his 6'7" hight, with a musical background that is rarely found among Europe's blues musicians. In the year 2000 he relocated to the USA and is currently based in Dallas/Ft.Worth, Texas.

BIOGRAPHY

Christian Dozzler was born into a musical family in Vienna, Austria on September 22nd, 1958. He started getting classical piano training when he was five years old. At age 14 he fell in love with the blues and has continued this romantic relationship ever since.

Solo piano-blues and boogie woogie were the starting point and are until now a major part in Christian's work. In 1976 he formed his first group, the "Backyard Bluesband", where he also played harmonica and guitar. 1981 was the year when he decided to make a profession out of his musical addiction, he also picked up the accordion after discovering Zydeco-music.

The years from 1984 till 1993 Christian spent as the co-frontman of Vienna's "Mojo Blues Band", started recording (see discography) and extensive touring throughout Europe. Regularly working with American blues artists (see reference list) has widened his musical horizon and made him an experienced player in several different styles of blues music.

From 1993 till 2000 he had his own band again: "CHRISTIAN DOZZLER & THE BLUES WAVE", where he could finally bring the whole variety of his talent into play. The program was a musical journey from Chicago-Blues, Boogie Woogie, Rhythm & Blues to Swamp Blues and Zydeco, and anything in between. Especially the Louisiana music would soon become a trade mark of this band. Four CDs resulted from these years. In 1999 the band recorded their fourth CD "Louisiana" right in the land of the bayous, together with some legendary figures of the Louisiana music scene. The CD has since found international critical acclaim.

In May 2000 Christian Dozzler accepted an offer that couldn't be refused. He joined the Baton Rouge, Louisiana based band of Larry Garner, moved to America, and toured the US and the rest of the world with Larry for two years.
In 2002 he settled in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, and continued his solo-career. This Metroplex rightfully has the reputation to have one of the best blues-scenes in the world, and is consequently the ideal home-base for any blues man. In spring 2003 he released his fifth CD "All Alone And Blue", going back to his personal roots in solo piano-blues and boogie woogie. The CD climbed to #3 of the KNON-Dallas blues charts in no time, received airplay on dozens of US blues stations, and critical acclaim in all major international blues publications. It even got Christian on the cover of Texas' "Southwest Blues Magazine".
In 2008 the next CD "The Blues And A Half" followed with all original songs, accompanied by some of the finest Texas blues guitar players: Anson Funderburgh, Mike Morgan, Jim Suhler, Hash Brown.
These days, Christian Dozzler performs mostly solo on both sides of the Atlantic. But also with bands like Anson Funderburgh & The Rockets, Mike Morgan & The Crawl or Hash Brown & The Browntones.

For a concise press-info in .doc -format click here.

AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS

CONCERTO-POLL 1998: in the yearly poll of Austria's biggest music-magazine the CD "SMILE AWHILE" was voted "Best Blues CD".

CONCERTO-POLL 2000: Christian Dozzler was elected "Best Blues/Roots Musician".

TROPHEES BLUES FRANCE 2000: At the french "blues-Grammies" Christian Dozzler was nominated in two categories. As "Best European Blues Singer" and "Best European Blues Artist".

FESTIVAL APPEARANCES IN RECENT YEARS:

Blind Willie McTell Bluesfestival - Thomson, Georgia
Doheny Blues Festival -Dana Point, California
Praterfest - Vienna, Austria
International Boogie Woogie Festival - La Roquebrou, France
Moulin Blues Festival -Ospel, Netherlands
Boogie Woogie Festival -Baden Baden, Germany
King Biscuit Blues Festival - Helena, Arkansas
Southwest Bluesfestivals - Ft.Worth, Texas
Sestri Levante Blues & Soul Festival, Italy
Frog Blues Festival - Elmo, Texas
Salmon Arm Roots & Blues Festival - BC, Canada

PRESS QUOTES
about Christian Dozzler & The Blues Wave:

"Top-quality Euroblues" (Back To The Roots, Belgium)
"...among the best that Europe has to offer in the Blues field." (HiFi-Scene, Switzerland)
"well-varied Blues on the highest level" (Graffitti, Switzerland)
"Sure, it's revival; sure, it's European. It's also well played, well sung, and, most
importantly, presented without pretense." (Living Blues, USA)
"...one of the best live Blues bands in Europe." (Westfalen Post, Germany)