The Djabe special guest Steve Hackett live recordings from 2011 Bratislava released on double vinyl only in 2013 by Gramy Records. In 2017 Esoteric Antenna, label of Cherry Red Records releases it on CD + DVD box in extended version. The CD contains 78 minutes version of the gig plus the Los Endos from the 2012 Budapest show with Gulli Briem (Mezzoforte) in the line-up. The DVD contains the full show and documentary from the 2011 summer tour with other extras.
Released February 24, 2017. Esoteric Antenna is delighted to announce the release of a live album by legendary guitarist Steve Hackett and the gifted Hungarian group Djabe. A wonderful live CD/DVD (NTSDC – region free) album from acclaimed former Genesis member & solo artist Steve Hackett with Hungarian band Djabe recorded live is Bratislava & Budapest. DVD includes a full concert and bonus documentary, promotional video of “Tears for Peace” & live extras. “Summer Storms and Rocking Rivers” was captured at a concert in Bratislava in July 2011 and a concert in Budapest in November 2012. The music within this release features well known Steve Hackett solo material such as The Steppes and Ace of Wands, alongside legendary Genesis material such as Firth of Fifth, Blood on the Rooftops, In That Quiet Earth and Los Endos. Djabe formed twenty years ago and are one of Hungary’s most acclaimed Jazz groups in the world. Playing a fascinating fusion of jazz and rock styles and featuring a line-up of Ferenc Kovács (vocals, trumpet, violin), Zoltán Kovács (keyboards), Attila Égerházi (guitar, percussion), Tamás Barabás (bass guitar) and Szilárd Banai (drums), Djabe have performed many concerts globally since 2002. In 2007 they began their association with Steve Hackett, who has appeared on the concert stage with them, performing both Djabe material and Genesis and Hackett solo material. At the Garana Jazz Festival in Romania, Steve Hackett & Djabe performed to an audience of 13,000 people, and now Summer Storms & Rocking Rivers captures wonderfully the magic of this collaboration on stage. The DVD included in this two disc set features a concert in Bratislava in July 2011 and also includes bonus features of a short documentary, the piece Jacuzzi / Overnight Sleeper, recorded in November 2013 with the Hungarian Symphony Orchestra and the promotional video of the song Tears for Peace.
Djabe stepped on stage with a renewed line-up in October, 2016. Founder of the band, Attila Égerházi (guitar) and musical director Tamás Barabás (bass guitar) refreshed the band along the guidelines of their high standards.
At the drums sits the internationally acclaimed, Artisjus Award-winner and Grammy Award nominee Péter Kaszás, who was and still is the drummer for Al Di Meola’s band, World Sinfonia, for 7 years. The old-but-new member of Djabe, Áron Koós-Hutás, multiple award-winning trumpet player who performed at many gigs of the band between 2008 and 2010. Primarily as second for Ferenc Kovács, Áron played alongside with the old Djabe member in 2010. He can be heard and seen on Djabe 15 DVD and on In the Footsteps of Attila and Genghis double CDs. The keyboards are under the hands of the Hungarian musical life’s outstanding talent János Nagy. The Artisjus, eMeRTon and Erkel Award-winning musician played with exceptional Hungarian and foreign celebrities along his career.
Recording of the album took place at the new line-up’s first ever concert at Columbus Jazz Club in Budapest, Hungary on the 26th October, 2016, where the audience could experience the quality of the renewed Djabe. This experience is now available for everyone through this release. Concert recordings were done in multichannel analog and mixed by world-famous sound engineer and Djabe’s bass guitar player, Tamás Barabás. Analog master tapes were produced by Djabe guitarist Attila Égerházi. The gig covered Djabe’s 21-year long repertoire, like a ‘Best Of’ show.
The concert will be released on CD in February 2017, followed by the vinyl version in March. Video recordings of the gig will be available online.
The book introducing the first 20 years of Djabe got published. On 344 pages, with nearly 900 color photos and a hard cover, all of these books are numbered by hand by band leader Attila Égerházi personally.
All the band members’ personal stories gets told in the book, giving a deep insight to Djabe never seen before. Readers can get acquainted with the band’s unique musical portfolio, known and renowned world-wide. Author László N. Göbölyös, a journalist, music enthusiast, Djabe fan for life and close friend to the band, was present at almost every imortant milestone. Numerous relevant Hungarian and and foreign criticisms of records and tours are quoted on the pages. As a ’key witness’ of Djabe life achievements, his personal knowledge and journalistic prowess the author succeded in writing a book both insightful and easy to read. Everyone interested in 20 years of a dream come true, and enthusiastic about Hungarian musicians reaching for international recognition will enjoy the book greatly.
For providing the most complex reader’s experience the book contains an order-form with a 50 to 80 percent offer for any and all Djabe releases. The publisher expected many readers to own previous but not every Djabe releases and provided a method for customers to expand their collection, as a musical extension of the reading experience. All order, irrespectively of quantity, comes with a gratis Slices of Live DVD release of Djabe.
October 26th 2016, 8PM @ Columbus Pub, Budapest
New members, new dimensions. A brand new line-up for Djabe!
The number one representative of jazz/world fusion stepped into its 21th year of life. Djabe performed in 42 countries with exceptional success along these years. The band holds numerous local and foreign music awards, and in the spotlight of international recognition. This spring Djabe’s 20-year anniversary concert brought a new album also, titled 20 Dimensions which reflects the time past and serves as a synthesis of the band’s career. The content of this album summarizes the career of the band in many different ways. The 20 Dimensions summer premiere tour spread across two continents, and after Rochester in USA had its final gig at the Canadian Edmonton International Jazz Festival.
Founder of the band, Attila Égerházi (guitar) and musical director Tamás Barabás (bass guitar) refreshed the band after the grand tour. This concert will be the first to introduce the 3 new members to the audience and marks the beginning of the New Dimensions Update Tour spanning through 2016 and 2017. Égerházi and Barabás stayed true to the high standards accustomed to Djabe when selecting the newest members of the band.
At the drums sits the internationally acclaimed, Artisjus Award-winner and Grammy Award nominee Péter Kaszás, who was and still is the drummer for Al Di Meola’s band, World Sinfonia, for 7 years. The old-but-new member of Djabe, Áron Koós-Hutás, multiple award-winning trumpet player who performed at many gigs of the band between 2008 and 2010. Primarily as second for Ferenc Kovács, Áron played alongside with the old Djabe member in 2010. He can be heard and seen on Djabe 15 DVD and on In the Footsteps of Attila and Genghis double CDs. The keyboards are under the hands of the Hungarian musical life’s outstanding talent János Nagy. The Artisjus, eMeRTon and Erkel Award-winning musician played with exceptional Hungarian and foreign celebrities along his career.
If you are interested in Djabe’s next dimension, this concert is the place to be!
Tickets can be bought with the attached order-form or on www.jegymester.hu website, and of course at Columbus Hajó, Budapest.
Djabe – Sheafs are dancing -
studio and live (2016 edition)
In autumn 2016 one of the most prominent album of Hungarian music history, the ’Sheafs are dancing’ CD Deluxe re-release hit the shelves of local stores – the 2003 album was one of the best release of Djabe to date. The compositions were inspired by paintings of artist Imre Égerházi which gave the album unique importance. The editorial concept followed the ’one painting, one track’ policy and consists of compositions of bass guitarist Tamás Barabás and guitarist Attila Égerházi. The band succeeded in mirroring the visual thoughts of the painter, with sounds ’painted across’ the canvases, and moved the visual experience further. The tracks echo the spirit of the Great Hungarian Plain, the Transylvanian landscape, or the field trips to Italy, Bulgaria, Poland and France. Djabe received numerous foreign invitations with the album and this was the beginning of international career for the band.
The 2016 edition christened ‘Sheafs are dancing – studio and live’ and it’s first CD is essentially the same as the original release. The second, now-debuting extra CD entitled ‘Sheafs are dancing – live’ with recordings of four different locations but sounds as an integrated concert album, thanks to the quality editorial and engineering work. The concert CD’s main material, seven recordings from the ‘Sheafs are dancing’ album tour at Pesti Vigadó, Budapest in 2003. Further two compositions (Szemrehányás, Ház a dombtetőn) had its recordings done at the same tour but different location, at Petőfi Csarnok.
In 2015 one of the band’s long-time dream came true, Repülés and Jégvilág compositions had their symphonic version was born. Tams Barabás recomposed the two compositions, arranged by pianist Zoltán Kovács with a 59 piece symphonic orchestra. The ‘Repülés’ and ‘Jégvilág’ recordings of ‘Sheafs’ concert disc was recorded at Művészetek Palotája, Budapest with the Hungarian Symphonic Orchestra Miskolc on November 10th, 2015.
A further interesting fact about ‘Sheafs’ concert CD is aside from the 5 and 6 ipece line-up of Djabe one track features a 7 piece line-up: recordings of ‘Fátyol mögött’ were made at a gig at New Orleans Club in 2004 with Viktor Tóth as a saxophonist; the artist was a full-time member of Djabe for a short time but no studio album was ever released under his membership.
The two discs are packaged to a extended, 36-page hard cover handbook, on digipak trays. Form to content. Good to hold in your hands. This quality must only be presented this way. Five stars.
As accustomed to Djabe the albums are available in both surround and stereo versions.
The 24 bit/96kHz MLP 5.1, MLP 2.0 tracks are sounding like the original studio recordings. In addition to MLP, DTS 5.1 and PCM 2.0 audio options are also available.
The DVD-Audio with the studio recordings is paired with a DVD-Video disc which contains a one hour version of the album premiere concert of April 1, 2016. For extra content the disc contains a collage of tour videos captured on Super8 and features all the Transition tracks as soundtrack for the movie. This film is interesting not just because it gives an opportunity to take a sneak peek into the band’s life behind the scenes but all 9 Transitions can be heard as one continuous track.
2016 studio album of the band celebrating its 20th Anniversary
The studio album of 2016 made in the innovative spirit accustomed to Djabe. Compared to the previous album ‘Forward’ recorded in tandem with the Miskolc Symphonic Orcestra ‘20 Dimensions’ emphasize on the acoustic and fusion vein of the band, with added modern electronica. The disc features 20 tracks or dimensions with a framed structure. At the beginning formulates the basics of dimensions, the concept of the album while the final, no. 20 track colligates with a philosophic view and the angle for continuation. Records composed by Tamás Barabás and Attila Égerházi are interconnected by 9 improvisations (Transition 1 to 9). These improvisations feature not only the work of the band members but of Malik Mansurov (tar) and Sára Kovács (didgeridoo, flute). Compositions of Tamás Barabás have the vigorous and sweeping characteristics accustomed to the artist, while those made in tandem with Attila Égerházi summon the lyric tone of the first period of Djabe history.
The final Out of Dimensions, with Atti’s music and the narration of Hans Petersen (also featured in the opening) is somewhat of an ars poetica for Djabe. “If you look far enough and break down your boundaries, you’ll see new close-ups from many aspects. These aspects are dimensions without limits you’ll have to try. The twentieth dimension seems like a conclusion – but after twenty, twenty one is the next.”
After completion of the CD a DVD-Audio release is already in the works. Latter features High Resolution Audio format in stereo and surround. Aside the studio recordings a 1-hour video of the April 1st 2016 premiere concert will also be present on the DVD, featuring most of the album’s compositions. As a further extra, videos for the Transitions are also present, made from Super 8 records of the tours of Djabe along its history. This video compilation raises interest not just because it gives an insight to the life of the band but features the 9 transitions as a whole. DVD release planned for the end of May 2016.
A vinyl release is also in the works, planned as a double album, containing one bonus track not present on CD or DVD releases. Planned release date is September 2016.
Anniversary DVD re-release of the band’s album nominated for the Hungarian Music Award from 1999.
GR-120-3, DVD Audio/Video
The new 24 bit / 96kHz mix of the third Djabe studio album is one of the
best in the Djabe's history.
Both stereo and surround version will be test material at the High End
auditoriums and tests
One year after Hungarian Music Award-winning ‘Witchi Tai To’ the new album ‘Ly-O-Lay Ale Loya’ instantly became an audience favorite and received favorable criticism. Line-up of András Sipos (vocal, percussion), Ferenc Muck (saxophone), Tamás Barabás (bass guitar) and Attila Égerházi (guitar) produced it’s third studio album building on the musical world of ‘Witchi Tai To’. Aside from musical advancement of the album András Sipos showed his extremely colorful musical character and the talent of a genius for percussion instruments, where he played Indonesian angklung, African djembe, Arabian derbouka, Latino konga and Brazilian berimbau with exact authenticity. The quality and arrangement of some compositions like ‘Memory Of Bells’ and ‘Underwater Sunlight’ heralded an international success that Djabe became. In 2015 Tamás Barabás remixed the album using the original tracks and 24-bit and 96 kHz technique. Characteristics of his original mixing were kept in place but upgraded with up-to-date technologies.
April 1st, 2016 at 8PM
1124 Budapest, 18 Csörsz Street
Tickets: MOM, Interticket, MOM Center for Culture ticket office, GR1993 Records
Djabe performed with numerous internationally known and renowned musicians around the world from Azerbaijan and England to the United States. Steve Hacket (Genesis), Ben Castle (The Brand New Heavies, Sting, George Michael), John Nugent (Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett), Gulli Briem (Mezzoforte), Oleg Butam (Eric Marienthal) and Malik Mansurov are just a few names of the many.
Part one of the concert in MOM Center for Culture brings well-known musical pieces from the last 20 years, from the first album named simply ‘Djabe’ to the latest ‘Forward’, published in 2014. The second part is the premiere of the band’s latest studio album ’20 Dimensions’, being published on the day of the concert.
Many of the band’s musician friends – performed in the past or still performing with Djabe - will contribute to this concert. The classic quintuplet of Djabe joined by Gulli Briem on drums and various percussion instruments, Ferenc Muck on saxophone, Áron Koós-Hutás on trumpet, Tibor Mótyán on tabla, Tibor Karvaly on violin and flute and András Sipos from audio and video recordings.
A series of 20-year anniversary concerts started last year in Müpa, where Djabe was joined by the Miskolc Symphonic Orchestra and Malik Mansurov performing the album ‘Forward’. Performance in MOMkult has a very different repertoire, only parallel being few of the musical pieces.
A book detailing the 20 years of Djabe, by László N. Göbölyös will also premiere on the day of the concert. Tickets available in MOMkult ticket offices, at Interticket, on the mom.jegy.hu website and in Gramy-H, ltd. office (1092 Budapest, 40 Ráday Street).
All tickets function as a 1000 HUF voucher for buying CD, LP, DVD and Blu-ray Djabe products, offered on site. One ticket only allows for one-time voucher usage per product.
Djabe: Live in Blue
with Steve Hackett, Gulli Briem
and John Nugent
GR-116-2, 2CD, digipak
The recordings made at the Down And Up stereo and surround tours during 2012 - 2014.
This is the second part of the Djabe: Live in Blue LP, 2CD, DVD, Blu-ray and five disc box series.
The length of the two CDs together is 158 minutes. There is only 32 minutes common content with the LP. The 2 CD contains 80 minutes music not can be found on the Blu-Ray.
Djabe in 2012 in connection with the Down And Up album release started a concert series in Hungary, Europe and Canada. The tour lasted until the summer of 2014.
The gigs are often joined by friends of the band. Steve Hackett played guitar from Genesis, Gulli Briem of Mezzoforte added drums and percussion, living in New York the Canadian born saxophonist John Nugent (Tony Bennett, Ella Fiztgerald) completed the list of guests.
The Miskolc concert on 10 November 2013 was particularly unusual because the Miskolc Symphony Orchestra and Sára Kovács on flute also contributed to the program.
The 2CD represents each stage line-up of the all the gigs.
Djabe: Live in Blue
with Steve Hackett, Gulli Briem
and John Nugent
GR-116-1 LP
180 gram, transparent blue vinyl
Limited edition, 500 numbered copies only
24/96 wav download of the album is coming as gift along with the cover
The recordings made at the Down And Up stereo and surround tours during 2012 - 2014.
This is the first episode of the Live in Blue LP, 2CD, DVD, Blu-ray and five disc box series.
Each release will contain minimum one track is not can be found on the other discs.
Djabe in 2012 in connection with the Down And Up album release started a concert series in Hungary, Europe and Canada. The tour lasted until the summer of 2014. The gigs are often joined by friends of the band. Steve Hackett played guitar from Genesis, Gulli Briem of Mezzoforte added drums and percussion, living in New York the Canadian born saxophonist John Nugent (Tony Bennett, Ella Fiztgerald) completed the list of guests.
The Miskolc concert on 10 November 2013 was particularly unusual because the Miskolc Symphony Orchestra and Sára Kovács on flute also contributed to the program.
The first item in the Live in Blue releases, the vinyl LP represents each stage line-up of the all the gigs.
You can hear the classic line-up of Djabe (Barabas, Banai, Égerházi, Ferenc Kovács, Zoltán Kovács) in Los Sipos from the Miskolc concert and Life Spirit from Óbuda. This composition is taken from the Forward to the album, and will not appear on the other Live in Blue discs.
Steve Hackett with Djabe can be heard on the Ace of Wands from Miskolc. Jacuzzi and the Overnight Sleeper are also from Miskolc. Zoltán Kovács arranged and conducted the Symphony Orchestra. Sára Kovács played flute and Steve Hackett acoustic guitar.
Djabe in 2013 at the Pecsa Music Hall recorded the rest of this LP, where Gulli Briem and John Nugent were the guest musicians. These pieces as two long medleys give an overview of the entire career of the band.
In the past 19 years of Djabe we had always felt that the actual studio album has been the most significant piece of our work. Looking back from a professional aspect, it was like that; and otherwise, it seems to be a natural attitude from the bands’ point of view, though the result wouldn’t necessarily be true, because this the base of a step “forward” for a team.
In this respect, “Forward” is yet extraordinary still. In 2013, due to the invitation of Hungarian Symphony Orchestra Miskolc, we were giving a concert within the lineup of Djabe’s special guest Steve Hackett. Since the symphonic orchestra would have liked to join in the performance, we had to serve them with the orchestration and the partituras. Fortunately we have a composer in our band, called Zoltán Kovacs, who has managed to carry out the tasks above; so we and Hungarian Symphony Orchestra Miskolc enjoyed a successful performance together.
That was the time when we were inclined to expand Djabe’s guests with a proper symphonic orchestra. We decided to write a whole album in which the Symphonic Orchestra takes part integrally. We managed to agree with Hungarian Symphony Orchestra Miskolc on the making of the recordings, and in the meantime Tamás Barabás started to compose and structure the tunes in such way that these would be set on the symphonic orchestra.
The arrangement was discussed with Zoli and they were working on the partituras together continuously. Tamás, as expected, attacked the task with the high quality and his dedicated own style. While listening to his compositions the characteristic signs of recent Djabe CDs can be recognised, and at the same time, the symphonic orchestra is raising his works into a different dimension.
The title track “Forward” is also outstanding, because in the first three minutes, as overture of the album, the classical musicians play exclusively. Thereafter the music is swimmingly turns into the usual Djabe’s sound in such way that the symphonic orchestra remains on the top of sounds. These virtues are also typical of both compositions “Twin Pines” and “My Day”.
A unique piece is “Hang Out”, which is due to the fruitful collaboration created with Gulli Briem, who is the drummer of legendary Mezzoforte. Gulli is a regular participant at Djabe gigs, and by now he became one of the special guests in the studio recordings as well. On this album, the excellent drummer shows his percussion qualities. One of his favourite instruments is the hang drum, which is always a huge success at shows because of its special sound and shape. We have fallen loved to it too, and Tamás composed a sweeping work to this instrument. “Hang Out” is based significantly on the symphonic orchestra too. Gulli, besides, is sharing his talent with us in more tracks as well. He plays the berimbau and sings in “New Words”. Berimbau played last time by Sipi in Djabe.
We have liked to have the album made not only special by the symphonic orchestra but to have further unique characteristics, too. So we invited our old friend, Malik Mansurov, the World’s greatest master of ancient stringed instrument the tar. As Steve Hackett characterized him, his musical professionalism and play are the mixture of John McLaughlin and Ravi Shankar. Tamás’ tune “Mr.East” was specifically composed for him. Malik just loved it and praised Tamás’ writing skills -and as he put it - the melody reminded him of the Iranian tar style. He would have loved to play this melody with his own traditional Azerbaijan mugham band in Baku too.
Malik’s fantastic musicianship can be heard in many tracks, for example in “Lava Lamp” where even the old friend from New York, saxophonist John Nugent, also played. John is sounding very much typical American high standard straight from Rochester. Steve Hackett, guitarist of Genesis, our old musician and soul mate, can also be heard in “Lava Lamp” and in two other tracks (“New Words” and “Wind Tale”). Steve took part in the sessions of Malik at the Gramy studio, since the master of tar contributed to his next album, too. It is good news for the lovers of Malik that a full album length of
a recorded session remained for future use - in the cupboard. Beautiful recordings in which Ferenc Kovács contributed with trumpet and violin play, so as did Feri’s daughter Sára Kovács with didgeridoo and flute.
I left my own compositions to the end. These numbers are presenting many of the oldest Djabe soundscapes again in this album, thereby helping to develop a real overall picture of the band. Tomi arranged my newer and older compositions with great mind and enthusiasm. According to usual routine, he edited, arranged and composed parts to them while treating the symphonic orchestra with special attention and care. “New Words” became a real world music opus, since outside the members of the band, Malik’s tar, Gulli’s berimbau, Steve’s jazz (!) guitar and Sára Kovács’ didgeridoo play can be enjoyed and I play the kalimba and the rainmaker. An earlier, fledgling version of the composition, with the title “Without Words”, was first time recorded on the “Köszönjük Sipi!” memorial CD in 2007. “Life Spirit” is a composition consisting of three parts, in which the third movement was born in the spirit of my respect for Steve Hackett and Genesis. Tomi’s great idea was the lead theme and the solo, which give it a real progressive flavour, and last but not least, it is going to enchant Genesis fans.
Recordings of “Wind Tale” piece were started in 2004 for the CD entitled “Slices of Life”. It was not finalized then, though the idea of its completion has been brought up by me each time we made a studio work.
Finally the “Wind” has found its way to move on “Forward”. It doesn’t matter, because certain parts sound magnificently just with the symphonic orchestra. The odd thing about the recording is that, András Sipos played the congas and percussion, including the sound of the xylophone like percussion instrument made by Feri Kovács in 2004. At the time, the alto saxophonist of distinction, Viktor Tóth was also a member of the band, whose alto solo and bamboo flute play can be heard in “Wind Tale, too”.
The closing track of the album “My Day” opens with the twittering of Üröm, Tomi’s stop-gap piece. The composition is built on the melodic, solistic bass guitar play. This kind of sound was mainly heard from him on occurrence of solos at gigs. My day provides the closing of “Forward” album as a large-scale tune accompanied by the symphonic orchestra.
All members of Djabe took part in the work enthusiastically. There was a new element as parts of the drums were recorded by Szilárd Banai at his own home studio. As we have experienced, intimate home environment has inspired work positively. It was also true for both Zoli Kovács’ keyboard – and my guitar and percussion recordings at home.
The violin notes for “New Words” were also recorded at my place with Feri. Tomi, as a sound engineer and a musician, worked on the album at home as well. Naturally, many of the recordings were made in Gramy studio, too.
Many thanks to the other collaborators too, to Tibor Mótyán for tabla recording in “Mr. East”, also many thanks to Judit Herczeg and Péter Kaszás for giving the vocal in “Hang Out”, and many thanks to my daughter for her enthusiastic percussion play in “New Words”.
The three-day recording session with the symphonic orchestra in Miskolc was a great adventure and work experience. Tomi supervised of the recordings, and as a composer he collaborated with Zoli who made the arrangement and conducted the orchestra. My duty was a filming. Here is the result:
The more than 22 minutes long “Forward Symphonic Suite” which consists of parts recorded with the symphonic orchestra exclusively, was placed on the fourth side of the double LP version of this album. A whole side of the record with full of Djabe music and it is played by an orchestra consisting of classical musicians!
I do believe that this is the most extraordinary delicacy of the double LP and DVD-Audio versions.
The Forward released by Gramy Records on CD (with video bonus), double 200 gram gatefold vinyl LP + CD with 22 minutes extra symphonic track on the Side D of the vinyl. 5.1 surround version on DVD-Audio disc with extras will also come out. Last but not least as download on iTunes, Amazon, Deezer and dalok.hu
Djabe: Witchi Tai To 2014 edition - DVD (Audio/Video)
GR-111
Djabe’s 1998 album was the second in the band’s history.
The double CD was recorded in their own studio which was just finished at that time.
The music was the work of the first, quartet formation of Djabe: András Sipos - vocal and percussion, Ferenc Muck - saxophone, Attila Égerházi - guitar and Tamás Barabás - bass.
The album was a huge success and both the professionals and the listeners took to it well.
It was nominated to the Hungarian Music Awards, and received the prize in World Music category (2000 – Golden Giraffe prize).
The double CD was unique in the packaging too, which was made of paper, digipak. This new case format was not so wide spread then, and it was ordered from the Netherlands.
The Witchi Tai To album had other international elements too. On the second disc, in which there were remixes for radios, placed the so called ‘Enhanced partition’. With an interactive menu you could play videos, and read a lot of information about the band, and with a weblink you could log on to Djabe’s website. This new form of release which had just begun to spread in the music world could have been produced at the legendary Abbey Road Studios in London that time only. So the production was made both at Gramy and in the former creative place of Pink Floyd and the Beatles.
The CD and Vinyl LP versions became very popular among the High-End auditoriums and Hi-Fi fans, and made it renowned until this day.
In 2013 Djabe renewed this legendary sound.
The music itself sounds fresh even today, and the past 15 years “matured” the production and the listeners’ ears as well. The original tracks were remixed completely by Tamás Barabás, the sound engineer of the band.
He not only kept the sonic values of the original CD but improved them as well, and the result could be the test record for lovers of quality sound. This is very true concerning the surround version, because in 5.1 the sound is more plastic, every fine detail of the recording the acoustic instruments are detectable, even those ones which would disappear in stereo version.
The new 2014 version is a one DVD disc edition, at the high quality “Djabe” standard.
The format is double sided DVD 10, so there is content on both sides of the DVD. The first side of the disc can be found the DVD Audio content. This layer can be played with DVD Audio compatible devices. DVD audio layer contains the high resolution uncompressed MLP (24 bit/96kHz) stereo and 5.1 audio tracks. The whole original album can be listened to in this high audio quality plus one bonus track, Visions, recorded in 1999.
The other side of the DVD is video format; it can be played with all DVD and Blu-Ray players. On this layer, the full album can be listened to, plus the 1999 Visions in stereo (PCM) and in 2 types of 5.1 (DTS and Dolby Digital). The video layer of the DVD contains visual extras too, from the original Enhanced CD, but in better quality of course. The film Djabe Live 1997 recorded in Budapest. In between the 1997 Pecsa concert’s songs there are the interview parts with members of the band. Djabe and Coffee Break video clips made for the radio mixes. These videos are really extras, as they were not existed at the time of the original release.
All elements of this anniversary edition are managed to surpass the high standard of the original album. It is true about the videos and audios as well.
jabe released their studio album, Down And Up at the end of 2012. It was highly appreciated by the professionals and audience as well, and was nominated to the Hungarian Fonogram Award in jazz category in 2013. The album was released in three different versions: CD, LP and DVD Audio format.
Down And Up was presented by the band during the Hungarian and international tour. The concert recordings was made on the 30th of November 2012 during theese shows, which later released on DVD. On the concert apart from the members of Djabe (Tamás Barabás, bass guitar, Szilárd Banai drums, Attila Égerházi guitar, Ferenc Kovács trumpet, violin and vocal and Zoltán Kovács keyboards) Steve Hackett from Genesis contributed too. The speciality of the show was that one week before the performance Gulli Briem agreed to participate as well. This was the first time that the drummer of Mezzoforte played together with the band, and later it became regular during Hungarian and international tours. In the first part of the gig the band and Steve Hackett introduced the first nine compositions from the album Down And Up –six amongst these were composed by Tamás Barabás and the remaining three were co-written by Ferenc Kovács and Attila Égerházi (two and two). The studio album and the concert were both arranged by Tamás Barabás. In the second half of the show Steve Hackett played an acoustic block, then members of Djabe joined him and continued the acoustic performance as a quartet. A special moment of the gig was Steve Hackett’s Ace of Wands played by Djabe in an acoustic version. The acoustic block was continued with Firth of Fifth, the famous tune was played on the violin by Ferenc Kovács then the band changed to electric within the song, and after the keyboard solo it was closed by the most famous guitar solo of Steve Hackett. During the following Genesis and Djabe songs Gulli Briem joined the band which boosted the intensity of the concert and coloured the sound of the rhythm section.
The encore was Tears for Peace, the last composition of Down And Up album. This is an interesting song. The music was written by Tamás Barabás, the lyrics by Joanna Hackett, Steve Hackett’s wife and it was sung by Steve.
The DVD contains the whole show in high quality sound, which is usual with Djabe – stereo and 5.1 surround as well. Amongst the extras there is the video for the song Tears for Peace. It is quite special because the band shooted it on 16 mms black and white film, and the song is played and sung on a T 59 tank in downtown Budapest.
Another extra is a video which was recorded during the 2011 concert in Debrecen, The Steppes which is a composition of Steve Hackett.
The producer also added a photo gallery to the DVD.
Djabe special guest Steve Hackett: Summer Storms And Rocking Rivers Double vinyl record (2x200 g), GR-107-01
The new live album of Djabe is the third record in succession they release together with guitarist Steve Hackett from Genesis. The first album was the Sipi Memorial Concert of 2008, followed by the double CD entitled In The Footsteps of Attila and Genghis, released in 2011 of their Middle European tour in 2010. The band borrowed the title from Steve Hackett’s tour blog in which the guitar legend describes his wanderings with his Hungarian friends across Russia, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Serbia, Austria and Hungary.
Summer Storms And Rocking Rivers is the second album that takes its title from Steve’s blog. The double album was recorded in Bratislava during the tour of 2011. During the July shows the band’s journey was interspersed with big summer storms in Hungary and Slovakia. The rivers in the title refer to the Danube, linking Bratislava and Budapest, as well as the Tisza which touches the city of Tokaj.
The second stop of the tour was the MMC Club in Bratislava, where the band had been awaited by Slovakian fans hungry for Genesis melodies. The fact that Steve Hackett had never performed before in Slovakia gave a special intensity to the show. The 2011 tour featured a lot of new elements compared to the 2010 concert series, as this time Steve, at the request of Attila Égerházi, also brought an acoustic instrument besides his inseparable Fernandes electric guitar. Thus the playlist could be extended to include acoustic songs like Ace of Wands, the extended version of Firth to Fifth, and also Horizons and Blood on the Rooftops, Steve’s best-known solo pieces from the Genesis era. Compared to 2010, the setlist played in Bratislava brought changes concerning the Djabe songs, too, as Scenes, Rush For Ménes and Flowers Stillness were also included. Steve could fit very well in these compositions and several already classic ‘Djabe special guest Steve Hackett’ songs were played. To name just a few: The Steppes, City of Habi, Butterfly, Last Train To Istanbul, In That Quiet Earth, Distant Dance
The interesting thing about the album is that it will not be released on CD, only on the traditional vinyl record. The design is of extra quality, due to the gatefold cover. The cases containing the records are also printed in four colors, but the most important information is that the records are pressed on 200 gram audiophile vinyl. Gramy Records made this decision to support vinyl releases and encourage the listeners to get back to physical recorded music. However, those who don’t feel like dusting their record player or buying a new one will not have to despair either, as the Bratislava concert will be also released on DVD by Christmas 2013.
One of the interesting features of the double album is that the fourth side ends with the closing part of Genesis classic Los Endos, which was recorded not in Bratislava in 2011, but in Budapest, on the stage of IBS in November 2012. As an extra specialty, this number features Mezzoforte icon Gulli Briem as second drummer.
Djabe: Down And Up
5.1 Surround release, DVD Audio/Video
Djabe released its previous studio album in 2008, and safe to say the new album Down And Up has been well worth waiting for. The music is simply first class both in both standard and in execution. We’ve been used to this quality and ambition from the band since its inception, and so no surprise therefore, that up to now 42 countries have invited Djabe to perform.
In November 2012 the double vinyl and CD version released. and now the 5.1 version is released, with many extras.
The surround release of the album offer a wide range possibilities for the audiophile lovers. The disc is DVD10 with two playable sides: one side with DVD Audio content, one side DVD Video content. With this solution all the DVD Video, DVD Audio and Blu-Ray player owners can playback the fantastic 5.1 sound.
On the DVD Audio side (player with DVD audio logo required), the whole album can be found in MLP 5.1 and MLP 2.0. This is the best quality digital replication of the original 24Bit/96kHz original recordings. Audio side contains one extra audio track, Steve Hackett’s composition entitled Camino Royale. The DVD Video side contains the whole album and the Camino Royale in DTS 5.1 and PCM 2.0 stereo. Uniquely the listener can choose from two different stereo masters. In addition to the 24/96 digital, you can listen to the analogue master used for the High End LP pressing. This solution is a good option for the High End testers to check the digital vs analogue differences. The DVD Video contains visual extras. Live performance of the title track and the Dark Soup and the video clip of the Tears For Peace.
The compositions, arrangement and studio recordings of Down And Up extol mainly the talent and exigency of Tamás Barabás. Naturally, some tunes referring to the world of some earlier Djabe recordings written by Attila Égerházi and Ferenc Kovács on the album. A special feature is that the last song of the album, Tears For Peace, was written by Joanna Hackett, wife of Steve Hackett. Here we must mention that the famous Genesis guitarist, who can almost be considered a Djabe member, is in five compositions on the album, moreover, he sings the track Tears For Peace.
While listening to the album we take part in the usual fresh and colourful music journey of Djabe and the band once more shows its new faces through ten new tracks portraying the moods and expressions of past experiences – downs and ups.
Tamás Barabás is a world renowned bass player. On Down And Up he actually plays a lot of instruments on the album, from which we can highlight his brilliant guitar performance. Few people are probably aware, that he started his career as a solo guitar player.
Szilárd Banai has grown into one of the best drummers on the horizon in the past few years, which is also proved by his international acknowledgments. His unique rhythmical and musical approaches add an enjoyable sense of colour to the compositions.
From the very beginning, Attila Égerházi’s guitar texture has been the basic characteristic of the Djabe sound. On this album, this essence is represented by Awakening City and Hills Of The Valley.
Ferenc Kovács brings his special musical ability on the trumpet and violin. The text he wrote for song The Dark Soup is of outstanding in its depth, and he performs it in his characteristic singing style.
Zoltán Kovács’s piano and keyboard playing have become an ever increasing important element of Djabe’s music wonderfully confirmed throughout this album.
Guest artists enrich this album with special colours through being exceptional musicians and through the musical instruments themselves. Steve Hackett (UK) plays the guitar and sings, John Nugent (USA) plays the tenor saxophone, Malik Mansurov (AZ) plays the ancient tar. From among the Hungarian musician friends Kálmán Balogh plays the cimbalom, Péter Bede plays the shepherd flute, Judit Herczeg is doing backing vocals and Gábor Veress plays the flute.
Djabe will tour again with the Down And Up album in surround sound!
The dates are follows: 27th February, 2013. Kecskemét, Kulturális és Konferencia Központ, 7 pm. 1st March, 2013 Budapest, PECSA Music Hall, 8 pm 2nd March, 2013 Oradea, Romania
Djabe is one of the World’s leading acts in surround studio recording and live solutions. This is a unique experience for all music lovers, especially the 5.1 in concerts.
Gulli Briem (drummer of Mezzoforte) will join to Djabe for all gigs, and John Nugent (Sax player Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, Woody Hermann) also joins to Budapest and Oradea shows. John played in few tracks on Down And Up, but both of them got important rule in the show.
Djabe: Down And Up 2LP (180 heavy vinyl), CD (+bonus video), DVD-Audio
Djabe released its previous studio album in 2008, and safe to say the new album Down And Up has been well worth waiting for. The music is simply first class both in both standard and in execution. We've been used to this quality and ambition from the band since its inception, and so no surprise therefore, that up to now 42 countries have invited Djabe to perform.
The composition, scoring and studio work of Down And Up extol mainly the talent and exigency of Tamás Barabás. Naturally, some tunes referring to the world of some earlier Djabe recordings written by Attila Égerházi and Ferenc Kovács on the album. A special feature is that the last song of the album, Tears For Peace, was written by Joanna Hackett, wife of Steve Hackett. Here we must mention that the famous Genesis guitarist, who can almost be considered a Djabe member, is in five compositions on the album, moreover, he sings the track Tears For Peace.
While listening to the album we take part in the usual fresh and colourful music journey of Djabe and the band once more shows its new faces through ten new tracks portraying the moods and expressions of past experiences – downs and ups.
Tamás Barabás is a world renowned bass player. On Down And Up he actually plays a lot of instruments on the album, from which we can highlight his brilliant guitar performance. Few people are probably aware, that he started his career as a solo guitar player.
Szilárd Banai has grown into one of the best drummers on the horizon in the past few years, which is also proved by his international acknowledgments. His unique rhythmical and musical approaches add an enjoyable sense of colour to the compositions.
From the very beginning, Attila Égerházi's guitar texture has been the basic characteristic of the Djabe sound. On this album, this essence is represented by Awakening City and Hills Of The Valley.
Ferenc Kovács brings his special musical ability on the trumpet and violin. The text he wrote for song The Dark Soup is of outstanding in its depth, and he performs it in his characteristic singing style.
Zoltán Kovács's piano and keyboard playing have become an ever increasing important element of Djabe's music wonderfully confirmed throughout this album.
Guest artists enrich this album with special colours through being exceptional musicians and through the musical instruments themselves. Steve Hackett (UK) plays the guitar and sings, John Nugent (USA) plays the tenor saxophone, Malik Mansurov (AZ) plays the ancient tar. From among the Hungarian musician friends Kálmán Balogh plays the cimbalom, Péter Bede plays the shepherd flute, Judit Herczeg is doing backing vocals and Gábor Veress plays the flute.
The significance of the album is proved by the fact that the label, Gramy Records, has launched it on the market in all important recording forms. Besides the CD version, the sixty-two minutes material is also released on a double vinyl LP, on three sides of the record. On the fourth side, as a bonus, one studio and two concert recordings can be found of Djabe's special guest Steve Hackett.
All important previous recordings of Djabe have been released in surround sound, and of course Down And Up not exception among them. The best available consumer sound quality is the MLP on DVD-Audio format, therefore the music has been released in 5.1 sound , 24bit/96 kHz onto the disc. As usual for those customers who cannot play DVD-Audio, the excellent sound of DTS audio can be played on traditional DVD players. On the DVD there are video extras featuring; an interview on the production of the recording, concert videos and a video clip.
The CD release is on the 25th of October 2012. The double LP's release is on the 15th of November. The DVD-audio release is on the 30th of January 2013.
The new album will be played on the 30th of November in Budapest, IBS Stage, 8 o'clock. Address: 1021 Budapest, Tárogató út 2-4.
The most important guest musician, Steve Hackett is also staring in the concert.
Tickets are available in all ticket offices via Ticket Express network, or through the internet from www.gr1993records.com and www.tex.hu.
Further information (+36 1) 217 2300 or (+36 1) 217 1121
The tour introducing our Slices of Life album has probably been one of the greatest undertakings of the band. The slightly complex musical texture was performed for the audience during 2006. The tour began in Hungary
in February and it continued during the summer in Europe and the USA. Over 50,000 people saw the band on stage.
This programme might have been rehearsed the most. For a two-month period, 27 rehearsals had been realised altogether. We performed the whole album track by track. Only three compositions were played from the album Sheafs Are Dancing a guitar piece from the first Djabe album, and the angklung of course.
Wonderful memories are preserved from Hungary, Italy, Rochester, Prague, Klaipeda and several other concert locations. Carefully selected recordings, videos and photos of the tour are included on the double CD and DVD released in 2007 entitled Message from the Road, which features the entire set of the concert tour. Therefore, present publication features solely the concert held in Budapest on
3rd March, 2006 at the Petôfi Concert Hall, because the Message from the Road does not contain any recordings from this show. We reserved the Budapest recordings for this separate DVD only.
According to the original plans this DVD should have come out for Christmas 2007. However, the death of András Sipos postponed work on it and was finished completely in 2012 although the editing of the video recordings had begun as early as 2006. Now, seeing it at such a distance of time, this concert might be even more exciting. It has matured with time like some good wine.
The video recording was originally intended for 16:9 format but it was filmed with 4:3 video cameras. While editing the recordings I decided not to mask the screen to fit a 16:9 aspect ratio. Several interesting details would have got lost. However, the video can be enjoyed by zooming in. Therefore, this concert comes with two different aspect ratios. Those who wish to see all the details should watch it in 4:3 format, the ideal one on an older kind of TV set. Those with TVs in 16:9 format and would like the film to fit the screen should zoom in to get the originally intended ratio.
Alapi István: niXfactor Best Domestic Jazz album of the year
On Tuesday night, one of the greatest musical events the Fonogram – The Hungarian Music Awards Gala - took place. On the Millennium Theatre stage, in front of several hundred professional participants, and through the Hungarian Television live broadcast several hundreds of thousands, were able to watch the performance of many excellent artists from the Hungarian musical life, as well as share in the happiness of the award winners.
Fonogram awards were awarded in thirteen domestic as well as five international categories. During the two-hour show, well-known performers were presenting the diversity of Hungarian musical life. Next to these established stars were many young talents of the modern age and international levels. Furthermore different musical productions were given space on stage, which were created especially for this evening.
This year, Alapi István an artist of Gramy Records, won the award for Best Jazz Album with his CD entitled niXfactor.
This is an excellent studio album of the updated band in 2001. The Djabe music kept its original values, but the band made a further step on the road of improvement. The compositions and arrangement became more complex and are of a higher standard; new musicians made richer the already colorful palette of the sound. the excellent, young British saxophone player, joined Djabe for the recordings and also for the tour. The professional judges gave an eMeRTon award for the album in 2001 as best world music album of the year in Hungary.
Reissue 5.1 mix was done in 2010 by Barabás Tamás at Gramy Recording Studio.
The release contains 4 hours audio extras and 3 hours video extras. Among the audio extras you can listen (5.1 or stereo) to the whole concert of the Update tour 2001, recorded in Szolnok.
The double DVD housed in elegant digipak.
There is a one disc release, which contains the first disc. This can be bought in a DVD Audio Super Jewel Box packaging.
Musicians:
Sipos András – vocal, percussion
Égerházi Attila – guitar
Barabás Tamás – bass guitar
Kovács Ferenc – violin, trumpet
Kovács Zoltán – keyboards
Banai Szilárd - drums
Ben Castle – saxophone, bass clarinet, flute
Said Tichiti – vocal, gembri, karbakat
DISC 1 – DVD10
This is a both sided DVD10 disc. If you insert the disc into the player with this label up: “This side up DVD Video”, you will reach the DVD Video content. If you want to listen to the high resolution, 24 bit/96 kHz audio tracks, please insert the disc into you player with this label up: “This side up DVD Audio”. In order to play the DVD Audio content, DVD Audio compatible player required.
DVD Video content
Update album: Update, Flying, First Step, Lead Soldier, Clouds Dance, Erdő, erdő,
Desire, Mayombe, Winter Forest, My Way, Barraguira, Colours, Ya Dellali, Witchi Tia To.
5.1 DTS, 2.0 PCM audio 75:07
Video extras
Reissue interview (2010)
Barabás Tamás, Kovács Ferenc, Égerházi Attila.
Dolby Digital 2.0, 16:9
Ben Castle interview (2001)
Interview, My way studio recordings, Clouds Dance soprano solos, First Step tenor solos, Mayombe flute solo.
Dolby Digital 2.0, 4:3
Mayombe TV clip
Video clip edited from TV broadcasts.
Dolby Digital 2.0, 4:3
eMeRTon Award
Djabe received an eMeRTon Award in 2001.
Dolby Digital 2.0, 4:3
Flying DVD outtakes
Outtakes from the Flying DVD, recorded during the 2001 Update tour. On the Flying DVD different versions can be seen. Flying, First Step, Lead Soldier, Erdő, erdő (Petőfi Csarnok), Clouds Dance (Pesti Vigadó).
5.1 DTS, PCM 2.0, 16:9
Audio extras
Update tour rehearsal at the Hajógyári Island 21st June 2001.:
First Step, Above the Skies, Update 2.2.1, Lead Soldier, Clouds Dance, Barraguira avagy 8 perc jazz, Winter Forest, Djabe.
Dolby Digital 2.0
Photo gallery: A lemezfelvétel, a turné és az eMeRTon díjátadás során készült fotók. Photos from the recording sessions, tour and eMeRTon gala.
DVD Audio content
Update album: Update, Flying, First Step, Lead Soldier, Clouds Dance, Erdő, erdő,
Desire, Mayombe, Winter Forest, My Way, Barraguira, Colours, Ya Dellali, Witchi Tia To.
5.1 MLP, 2.0 MLP audio 75:07
DISC 2 – DVD9
Update tour Szolnok concert 22nd June 2001 (audio only)
Village of the Sun, Ly-O-Lay Ale Loya, Underwater Sunlight, Gallop, Visions, Distant Dance, Witchi Tia To, Above The Skies, Tulamben, Update, Flying, First Step, Lead Soldier, Clouds Dance, Desire, My Way, Mayombe, Winter Forest, Barragiura, Djabe.
5.1 DTS, PCM 2.0 audio. 2 hours 22 mins.
Video extras
Bratislava Jazz Days 18th October 2002
Flying, Witchi Tia To, Clouds Dance, Colours, Camel Ride, Bratislava, Djabe.
Dolby Digital 2.0, 4:3
Television concert (2001)
Flying, Lead Soldier, Djabe.
Dolby Digital 2.0, 4:3
Audio extras
Radio broadcast – Live at the Nagykanizsa Jazz Festival 19th October 2001
Interview, Clouds Dance, Village of the Sun, Distant Dance, Djabe.
Dolby Digital 2.0
Long awaited anniversary concert released on double DVD
Djabe 15 - 2DVD
Djabe celebrated its 15-year anniversary in 2010. The occasion was celebrated by a concert organized for the band by the Palace of Arts. Djabe wanted to provide a thorough presentation of the first 15 years, therefore the most significant former members and featured musicians were invited to participate at the concert. Passed András Sipos, founding member of the band played together with the band on recordings.
The performance lasted 3 hours without intermission, which found its way to the DVD. According to the band, it had been their best concert ever. Consequently, the release of the show is their best live recording as well. Disc 1 contains the concert with stereo and 5.1 sound. The aspect ratio is 16:9. The disc has no region code and is made in PAL system.
Disc 2 features the history of Djabe. An interview was made with the band by author László Zeke, who experienced the story of the band at first hand. The interview is illustrated and complemented by numerous footages most of which has so far been unseen by the public. An interview was made with the musicians taking part at the rehearsal on the day before the concert. Gábor Bakó, Ferenc Muck, Said Tichiti, Áron Koós – Hutás, Steve Hackett and Malik Masurov relate their experiences and stories in connection with the band. The combined length of the two documentaries and the extras make up more than four hours. Therefore, watching the complete Djabe 15 double DVD requires a whole working day including a lunch break, namely 8 hours.
The DVD just like the Sipi Benefit Concert or the Sheafs Are Dancing is released in an elegant paper cover. The 28-page booklet accompanying the discs feature information and photos about the concert as well as documents and photos illustrating the history of Djabe.
Djabe: Szilárd Banai, Tamás Barabás, Attila Égerházi, Ferenc Kovács, Zoltán Kovács
Guest musicians: Steve Hackett, Malik Mansurov, Áron Koós-Hutás, Ferenc Muck, Mihály Dresch, Viktor Tóth
Djabe hits the road once again in July with Steve Hackett. The tour will reach Hungary and Slovakia.
Djabe special guest Steve Hackett will play the numbers from their current double album entitled In the Footsteps of Attila and Genghis.
13 July Budapest, Columbus Pub, 8.30 pm, Hungary
13 July Bratislava, Majestic Music Club, 8 pm, Slovakia
13 July Hegyalja Fesztivál, Tokaj, 9 pm, Hungary
16 July Cívis Korzó, Debrecen, 8 pm, Hungary
Tickets:
Gramy Records: rendeles@gramy.hu, +36 1 217-1121; Columbus Ship,
Budapest, Vigadó square, dock No.: 4, +36 1 266-9013;
online: www.jegymester.hu
Before the East- European tour Djabe will play at Festivals in Wales and England, but no Steve will join to the Hungarian Jazz/World outfit.
Kriszta Pocsai: Home at last CD Gábor Vermes Group: Slap the bass CD
The debut albums of two outstanding representatives of Hungarian jazz have been published by Gramy Records.
Krisztina Pocsai is one of the best Hungarian jazz singers, whose talent has added so much to the standard of several productions. However, so far she has failed to provide us with a solo album. Her views on the album:
“The CD entitled Home at Last is my first album as a solo artist and a composer. It is the result of the past six years. The title Home at Last is true regarding different points of view. I found my partner for life, we found our first mutual home, and during the studio works of the title song I had already been expecting our first baby. Can a woman or anyone wish for more? I don’t think so. However, I have been blessed with so much more. Such fellow musicians, for instance, who have been playing music with me for years in joy and with creativity. They inspire me during the rehearsals and concerts both spiritually and professionally. This album could not have been created without them.
I express momentary moods, emotions and thoughts characteristic to certain periods of my life in my songs. There are ephemeral ones among them and less fleeting ones, hopefully. Time will tell. Their musical form was shaped in the course of the past years and they will most probably change in the future as well. The album is so to say a snapshot of the summer of 2009 and the spring of 2010. A snapshot in many colours. The songs are made up from swing, groove, Latin, unique pieces and ballads, of course. The title song was written and orchestrated for string quartet with my partner.
Bass guitarist Gábor Vermeshas provided innumerable productions with a steady basis for artists representing various styles. He himself enjoys groovy, funk-inspired music the most as his compositions are a proof to it. The album leaves no doubt of the high standards of his slapping play that fits the style perfectly. His compositions stand out of the Hungarian music scene, which has not produced many similar recordings at such a high level in this genre. During the various flow of music, the bass guitar remains at the focus, of course. The album features partly vocal, partly instrumental songs that have a bass guitar core and a groovy touch but remain melodic throughout. In them, the stylistic marks preferred by the composer can be identified well.
Gábor Vermes won the prize of the best solo artist on an instrument at the Jazzy Jazz Song Contest in 2009.
Nothing could elevate the standard of the recording but all those renowned musicians featured during the recording with whom the composer was able to work in prefect harmony. Previously, several mutual formations had brought them together in the course of years, decades even.
Szombaton, április 9-én a megszokott időpontban délután 5 órakor kinyitja kapuit a Magyar Rádió Márványterme, hogy nem akármilyen nívós koncertet mutasson be!
HÁROM KIVÁLÓ muzsikus, Elsa Vallé, Szakcsi Lakatos Béla és Winand Gábor, akik a legnagyobb jazz szinpadon gyakori vendégek, ez alkalommal olyan klasszikus darabokat prezentálnak a közönségnek, melyeket Plácido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, Ernesto Lecuona művészetén keresztül ismert meg a világ.
A sikeres kelet-európai koncertturné hivatalos pólója, melyből sokat megvásároltak a koncertek során. A maradékot értékesítjük a Gramy Records vevői számára
100% pamut, egyedi grafikával.
Djabe special guest Steve Hackett project's best moments on double CD
Djabe special guest Steve Hackett: In the footsteps of Attila and Genghis - 2 CD
The material of the double CD was recorded in the summer of 2010 during the band’s tour with Steve Hackett. The concert tour reached Russia, Hungary, Bulgaria and Serbia (in chronological order).
The show included Djabe classics (Distant Dance, Clouds Dance, Butterfly, Doromb, Erdő, erdő) and original compositions by Steve Hackett (The Steppes, Last Train to Istanbul) as well as hits originating from Genesis.
The album features several novelties as the Hackett and Genesis pieces performed with Steve have not been published before. The new Djabe composition entitled Dark Soup has not been available at all, either. An interesting fact is that Steve Hackett was an essential participant of this composition. Other unique pieces include the compositions Pécs and Genghis’s Sword.
The most curious recording of the album is the song Last Train to Istanbul by Steve Hackett, which was originally featured on his own current solo album entitled Out of the Tunnel’s Mouth. This piece had not been played live even with his own band. One reason of this might be that Ferenc Kovács, the violinist of Djabe plays a vital role in the song. However, Feri Kovács is always part of a Djabe concert, which meant that the band was able to perform this excellent piece of composition.
Musicians: Steve Hackett – guitar, vocal;
Szilárd Banai – drums;
Tamás Barabás – bass guitar;
Attila Égerházi – guitar, percussion, vocal;
Ferenc Kovács – trumpet, violin, vocal;
Zoltán Kovács – keyboards; Áron Koós-Hutás - trumpet (CD1 – 5, 7; CD2 – 4, 6, 7)
Tracklist:
CD1
Erdő, Erdő, Firth of Fifth, Dark Soup, City of Habi, The Steppes, Pécs, Distant Dance, Clouds Dance
+ Live broadcast from Nisville Jazz Festival, Serbia, 14th August, 2010: The Steppes; Nis – angklung inprovisation
CD2
Doromb, Butterfly, Last Train to Istanbul, In That Quiet Earth, Genghis’ sword, Behind the Veil, Omachule excerpt
+ Live footage from Penang Island Jazz Festival, Malaysia, 6th December, 2008: Behind the scenes (On the way to Penang, Soundcheck, Backstage) Erdő, Erdő; Firth Of Fifth; Malaysia Bole!
The Viennese concert guitarist Johanna Beisteiner gives on this DVD a detailed overview
of her large repertory and versatile artistic projects. Besides famous works by Vivaldi,
Schubert, Bach and Tárrega she also plays contemporary music. In the centre of attention
stands the cooperation with the Hungarian composer Robert Gulya, whose Concerto for
guitar and orchestra is infl uenced by the events of 09/11 and expresses the confl icts of
culturally diverse peoples.
For the shooting of the video clip The Milonguero and the Muse Johanna Beisteiner has
been working with the Argentine dancer and choreographer Rafael Ramirez.
A Milonguero is a man, who tries to seduce women by dancing Tango. The clip is about
a frustrated Milonguero searching for the woman of his dreams. When he catches sight of
a guitarist, he thinks to have found his muse. But when dancing together, they fi nd out,
that they do not fi t to each other. This story is symbolic of the often sad reality in Tango:
hope, expectation and disappointment.
[02.18.2010] Djabe/Steve Hackett: Sipi benefit concert 2CD and 2DVD are distributed online by HackettSongs online shop
Thanks to the agreement of Gramy Records and HackettSongs online shop, the Djabe/Steve Hackett: Sipi benefit concert 2 CD and 2 DVD can be ordered online from The HackettSongs online shop from all over the World. This is the official Steve Hackett online store, where you can buy the latest Hackett releases.
The prices are:
Djabe/Steve Hackett: Sipi benefi concert 2 CD GBP 11.91 + VAT + Shipping
Djabe/Steve Hackett: Sipi benefi concert 2 DVD GBP 13.61 + VAT + Shipping
In 2007, Steve joined forces with old friends Djabe, Hungary’s preeminent Jazz/World fusion band, to perform a benefit concert for the family of their late percussionist Andras Sipos, known to all as Sipi. In front of a packed concert venue in Budapest, Steve and Djabe perform more than two hours of material, including Steve’s solo acoustic medley.
This DVD release contains the whole concert spread across two DVDs. Additional bonus material includes, on Disc 1, one of Sipi’s last performances, recorded by Serbian Television at the Nišville Jazz in Niš, Serbia. Disc 2 includes “What happened on 30th November…” , a ‘behind the scenes’ documentary about the Sipi concert.
[12.01.2009.] Richard Szaniszlo vibraphone player's dubut album
Gramy Records has released Richard Szaniszlo's debut album. He erned domestic and international success as a vibraphone player in the last few years. The CD is supported by the PANKKK program.
The album entitled "Hands of Passion (ballads and other stories)" based on vibraphone, piano and percussion trio's unique sound. Szaniszlo compositions combine the virtuous and emotional musical elements of jazz music. This kind of musical trio has a very unique sound picture. He uses four and five mallets. The “five-mallet” playing is stand-alone among the jazz vibist all over the world.
Contributors on the recordings are Gábor Cseke on piano, and Csaba Pusztai on percussion.
Ferenc Kovács (Öcsi) has come out with a new album compiled from the best concert recordings of recent years. The CD begins with the 2004 performance of Magony Strings, then it dissolves almost unobserved into the Magony concert of 2007 in Debrecen, where the strings are completed with wood instruments and drums. In the last part of the album, the Great Magony Orchestra can be heard, where the best fellow-musicians of Ferenc Kovács are lined up: Mihály Dresch, Kálmán Balogh, Zoltán Kovács, Szilárd Bánai and Ferenc Schreck all reinforce Magony. A comprehensive and capturing disc which summarizes the solo projects of Ferenc Kovács.
Steve Hackett launched a new website beginning of this year at www.hackettsongs.com
Steve’s opening notes:
”Welcome to my new site! Tune in here for the latest news on recordings, touring and all things Hackett related. Like any fledgling site it's a work in progress and will continue to evolve. My new team look forward to having you on board!”
On his new site, in the blog section, Steve wrote about his Malaysian journey with Djabe.
Djabe – Sheafs are dancing - 
20 Dimensions DVD-Audio released!
Djabe 20 Dimensions 
Djabe: Ly-O-Lay Ale Loya
Djabe: Live in Blue
Djabe: Live in Blue
Djabe: Forward
Djabe: Witchi Tai To 2014 edition - DVD (Audio/Video)
Djabe released its previous studio album in 2008, and safe to say the new album Down And Up has been well worth waiting for. The music is simply first class both in both standard and in execution. We've been used to this quality and ambition from the band since its inception, and so no surprise therefore, that up to now 42 countries have invited Djabe to perform.
The tour introducing our Slices of Life album has probably been one of the greatest undertakings of the band. The slightly complex musical texture was performed for the audience during 2006. The tour began in Hungary
in February and it continued during the summer in Europe and the USA. Over 50,000 people saw the band on stage. 
Alapi István: niXfactor
Krisztina Pocsai is one of the best Hungarian jazz singers, whose talent has added so much to the standard of several productions. However, so far she has failed to provide us with a solo album. Her views on the album:
Bass guitarist Gábor Vermeshas provided innumerable productions with a steady basis for artists representing various styles. He himself enjoys groovy, funk-inspired music the most as his compositions are a proof to it. The album leaves no doubt of the high standards of his slapping play that fits the style perfectly. His compositions stand out of the Hungarian music scene, which has not produced many similar recordings at such a high level in this genre. During the various flow of music, the bass guitar remains at the focus, of course. The album features partly vocal, partly instrumental songs that have a bass guitar core and a groovy touch but remain melodic throughout. In them, the stylistic marks preferred by the composer can be identified well.
Szombaton, április 9-én a megszokott időpontban délután 5 órakor kinyitja kapuit a Magyar Rádió Márványterme, hogy nem akármilyen nívós koncertet mutasson be! 
The material of the double CD was recorded in the summer of 2010 during the band’s tour with Steve Hackett. The concert tour reached Russia, Hungary, Bulgaria and Serbia (in chronological order).
The show included Djabe classics (Distant Dance, Clouds Dance, Butterfly, Doromb, Erdő, erdő) and original compositions by Steve Hackett (The Steppes, Last Train to Istanbul) as well as hits originating from Genesis.
The Viennese concert guitarist Johanna Beisteiner gives on this DVD a detailed overview
of her large repertory and versatile artistic projects. Besides famous works by Vivaldi,
Schubert, Bach and Tárrega she also plays contemporary music. In the centre of attention
stands the cooperation with the Hungarian composer Robert Gulya, whose Concerto for
guitar and orchestra is infl uenced by the events of 09/11 and expresses the confl icts of
culturally diverse peoples.
Thanks to the agreement of Gramy Records and HackettSongs online shop, the Djabe/Steve Hackett: Sipi benefit concert 2 CD and 2 DVD can be ordered online from The HackettSongs online shop from all over the World. This is the official Steve Hackett online store, where you can buy the latest Hackett releases. 
Gramy Records has released Richard Szaniszlo's debut album. He erned domestic and international success as a vibraphone player in the last few years. The CD is supported by the PANKKK program.
Ferenc Kovács (Öcsi) has come out with a new album compiled from the best concert recordings of recent years. The CD begins with the 2004 performance of Magony Strings, then it dissolves almost unobserved into the Magony concert of 2007 in Debrecen, where the strings are completed with wood instruments and drums. In the last part of the album, the Great Magony Orchestra can be heard, where the best fellow-musicians of Ferenc Kovács are lined up: Mihály Dresch, Kálmán Balogh, Zoltán Kovács, Szilárd Bánai and Ferenc Schreck all reinforce Magony. A comprehensive and capturing disc which summarizes the solo projects of Ferenc Kovács. 
Steve Hackett launched a new website beginning of this year at 
