Mojo Blues Band — Austrian blues ensemble founded in 1977

Austrian blues band formed in 1977 by Eric Trauner and Joachim Palden, noted for piano-and-guitar driven Chicago-style blues, long touring history and influence on the Central European blues scene.

Author: Leandro Alegsa Creation date: November 13, 2022 Last updated: May 30, 2026

Overview

The Mojo Blues Band is a long-running blues ensemble originally formed in 1977 in Austria. Founded by guitarist Eric Trauner and pianist Joachim Palden, the group built a reputation for energetic live shows and a repertoire that blends classic Chicago blues, boogie-woogie piano pieces and original compositions. The band's name refers to the term "mojo," a charm or talisman associated with certain African diaspora spiritual practices and popularized in blues lore; it is derived from traditions often described as voodoo.

Musical style and instrumentation

Musically, the Mojo Blues Band is known for a roots-oriented approach. Their sound typically emphasizes:

electric and acoustic guitar leads
piano and boogie-woogie rhythms
rhythm section with bass and drums
occasional harmonica, horns or guest singers

They perform a mix of vintage blues standards and self-penned songs that draw on Delta, Chicago and swing influences, often arranged for lively stage performances.

History and development

Formed by two musicians active on the local club circuit, the band grew from small club dates to broader regional touring. Over the years the ensemble has seen lineup changes typical of long-lived groups, but it has maintained continuity through consistent live activity and recording. Their evolution reflects both devotion to traditional blues forms and adaptation to contemporary live audiences.

Recordings, performances and influence

The group has released recordings and appeared at festivals and venues across Central Europe. Their steady presence helped popularize acoustic and electric blues styles in Austria and neighboring countries, inspiring younger musicians and contributing to a local scene of blues clubs and events. Live shows are often praised for their immediacy and audience engagement.

Notable facts and legacy

While not defined by mainstream commercial charts, the Mojo Blues Band is notable as one of the enduring blues acts to emerge from Austria in the late 20th century. Their name and repertoire link modern European blues practice with the African American musical traditions that shaped the genre. For an introduction to the band’s recordings and tour history, listeners can search music platforms and festival archives that document the regional blues circuit.

Mojo

The name of the band comes from the term mojo, which describes a kind of talisman in voodoo magic. This word is used very often in blues and rock 'n' roll and was thus spread worldwide. Erik Trauner quotes Muddy Waters among others: I've got my Mojo working, but it just don't work on you.

History

In 1976 Erik Trauner started performing in Viennese clubs with pianist Joachim Palden. 1977 saw their first appearance as the Mojo Blues Band at Vienna's Jazzland. In the same year they won a record contract at a boogie-woogie contest in Zurich and got their first studio recording.

As the only blues band in Vienna at the time, they were repeatedly hired to accompany US artists on tour in Austria, and thus came into contact with those who had created this music. In Vienna's Jazzland, the band performed with legendary US musicians Johnny Shines, J. B. Hutto, Charlie Musselwhite, Louisiana Red, Sunnyland Slim, Champion Jack Dupree, Homesick James, David Honeyboy Edwards, Leon Thomas, Katie Webster, Hal Singer, Jan Harrington and Eddie Clearwater over the past decades. His frequent collaboration with Hamburg boogie-woogie specialist Axel Zwingenberger is documented on several CDs.

In 1980, Dana Gillespie, who later became a successful pop singer, joined the Mojo Blues Band, which at the time was moving stylistically towards R&B and rock 'n' roll. In the early 90s, Alligator Walk (to the band's later surprise) became one of the most popular songs on the US shag scene, leading to a successful tour of North and South Carolina in 1998.

In 1989, the band members took a "company outing" to Chicago. There they played with various musicians and brought back material from a 16-hour recording session. The album The Wild Taste of Chicago was created from this material. In 1993 Christian Dozzler left the Mojo Blues Band to form his own band. Since the harmonica player was missing, Erik Trauner took lessons from Christian Sandera and took over this part.

In 1999 Erik Trauner was awarded the Golden Decoration of Merit of the Republic of Austria, which may be somewhat surprising when one looks at the Austrian artistic landscape, which is characterized by high culture. It is true that at the end of 2001 the Mojo Blues Band (in the line-up: Erik Trauner (vocals, guitar, slide guitar, harmonica), Daniel Gugolz (bass), Markus Toyfl (guitar), Peter Müller (drums), Thomas Horneck (piano)) was announced to disband. In this line-up they gave their farewell concert on December 19, 2001. But Erik Trauner gathered musicians around him again soon after, and since 2002 his band, strengthened with Siggi Fassl, has been performing again.

The Mojo Blues Band open air, Vienna Jazzfest 2007

Author

Creation date: November 13, 2022

Last updated: May 30, 2026