“Music is not a universal language, it is a medium that is universally understood. Music enriches life; it is both derived from and adds to culture. It inspires diversity and promotes harmony.” – Franz ‘Franzi’ HacklWith Idiomo di Omni (“IDO”), a dialect for everyone, Franzi merges Tyrolean Folk-tunes, the musical dialect he grew up with, with the music and sounds of New York, the city he calls home for the past 30 years. Music isn't a universal language. Music has as many dialects as the spoken word, as Franzi explains. Drawing from the energy and inspiration of the ‘Global Village’, aka New York, makes it possible to develop a universal dialect – ‘It’s quite remarkable when one can make human connections and relate to each other, through music, in its many forms’, Franzi further explains.A visionary and pioneer in his field, Franz Hackl Sr. dedicated his life to music. A child prodigy, he set the course of his life’s work at a very early age and embarked on a journey that would forever empower the trumpet soloist.1966, Franz Hackl Sr. and his childhood sweetheart and wife, welcomed home Franz Hackl Jr. - Franzi was born. Like his father, Franzi developed a love for music at a very early age. And, whether it was nature or, nurture, his technical abilities and his passion for his father’s instrument was distinct and unmistakeable. At the tender age of 11, Franzi was an accomplished soloist and began performing at the age of 14 with the world-renowned Austrian brass band, Original Tiroler Kaiserjägermusik. And, at the age of 15, Franzi kicked-off his first international tour.Franzi explored multiple music genres and became captivated with the sounds of an American original – Jazz. The complexities, the rhythms, the conversation. It was, as Franzi realized, a dialogue among fellow performers – for all the world to witness and bask in. Franzi proceeded to become an alumnus of the Conservatory of the City of Vienna. In 1990, Franzi decided to further pursue his jazz soloist ambitions and he moved to New York to play and study. He received an M.S. degree from the Manhattan School of Music, where he studied with trumpet legend, Lew Soloff. And, in 2002, after moving to his new home in Harlem – he realized his dream to be in the heart of the cultural and music capital of New York.Franzi performs at world renowned venues, including Jazz Standard (as a leader), Blue Note, Birdland, and Sweet Basil, to name a few. For the past 30 years he has toured the international festival circuit and a multitude of concert halls, including performances in Portugal, France, Austria, Germany, Italy, Indonesia, Tunisia, Brazil, USA, Denmark, Romania, Poland, Switzerland, Finland, and Estonia.Today, Franzi continues to lead crossover projects with members of the Vienna Philharmonic, combining traditional Austrian brass music with jazz, classical and contemporary classical music, film music, and show tunes.
