The Story of Jazz - As Time Goes By - Chapter 1 - Blame It On My Youth - Metropoldi - Wien - 2026

Metropoldi, Wien

Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Coleman Hawkins, Benny Goodman, J.J. Johnson, Mary Lou Williams, Ray Brown, Buddy Rich—they are all among the jazz legends who took the stage while still in their early teens, and some even as children. What they performed at that time is largely undocumented, but intensive research allows us to piece together a good part of it.

In the first chapter of THE STORY OF JAZZ 2026/27, a Kurt Prohaska Orchestra—composed of handpicked young musicians from the Austrian jazz scene—recreates the work of these historic jazz stars at the beginning of their careers. When enthusiasm, a willingness to take risks, and perhaps even a touch of recklessness prevail over experience, routine, and technical brilliance, all the musicians—except for one—can say: Blame It On My Youth!

“As Time Goes By” is the four-part annual theme for 2026/27, marking the beginning of a new decade for THE STORY OF JAZZ!

Chapter 1: Blame It On My Youth (October 2026)
Chapter 2: Young At Heart (November 2026)
Chapter 3: All Too Soon (February 2027)
Chapter 4: Young No More (April 2027)