[12.30.2008] Nikoletta Szőke's debut album released at Gramy Records
Nikoletta Szőke, virtually unknown at the time even in Hungary, astonished everyone by winning the Shure Jazz Voice World Competition at the 2005 Montreux International Jazz Festival. An incredibly talented improviser, a highly intelligent singer with a style of her own and stupendous timing, she is one of the few who’s become adored by audiences and fellow musicians alike. Although she had been born into one of the Hungarian Gipsy musical dynasties (her father is a noted cimbalom player), she didn’t start learning music until the age of 18. Her first teacher was vocalist Gábor Winand, the man rated as the most original jazz-singer in Europe by the critics of the influential French magazine, Jazzman. She also took classical singing lessons as the only jazz-oriented pupil of Júlia Bikfalvy who had coached the diva Andrea Rost to international stardom. Originally heading for a degree in English and Russian at Budapest University, after her first year, Niki Szőke had to make a choice between her studies and full-time jazz singing. Her decision may have been Academia’s loss but a colossal gain for the world of jazz. Now, at the age of 25, she is already the undisputed favourite of the cognoscenti on the Hungarian jazz scene.
[02.15.2008] Take on - Djabe 2008 studio album out now
The long awaited new studio album from Djabe just released.
The "Take on" CD is a worthy continuation of the band’s traditions and the values represented by them so far.
The composing ability of Tamás Barabás integrates all the talent of the members of the band, creating a new quality by that.
The compositions are fresh, unique, still sound familiar.
In 2008 Djabe goes on with a renewed energy. In January we finish the long awaited studio album entitled Take on. The official release date of the CD version is 18th of February. The DVD Audio incarnation of this release with a lot of visual extras will come out end of March. Promoting the new album Djabe goes on tour on three continets, Europa, North America and Asia.
Djabe works as a quintet, there is no replacement in the line up of unforgettable Sipos András. Otherwise Djabe has a special guest at some gigs in Hungary and USA. Rochester based John Nugent on saxophone will join to the band. John played among others with Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Benett, Clark Terry, a Temptations, Steve Ray Vaugh and he was a member of the Woody Hermann Orchestra.
Please check the tour page for further details.
The Sipi memorial and charity concert was a huge success. Great spirit and floating music. We plan to release the whole show on DVD. Some further contribution with Steve Hackett is on the Horizons. The postprudoctions of the 2006 and 2007 live shows are still ongoing projects. We hope the Slices of live double DVD can come out this year too.
15th of January 2008
Banai Szilárd – drums
Barabás Tamás – bass guitar
Égerházi Attila – guitar, percussion
Kovács Ferenc – trumpet, violin, vocal
Kovács Zoltán – keyboards
Nikoletta Szőke, virtually unknown at the time even in Hungary, astonished everyone by winning the Shure Jazz Voice World Competition at the 2005 Montreux International Jazz Festival. An incredibly talented improviser, a highly intelligent singer with a style of her own and stupendous timing, she is one of the few who’s become adored by audiences and fellow musicians alike. Although she had been born into one of the Hungarian Gipsy musical dynasties (her father is a noted cimbalom player), she didn’t start learning music until the age of 18. Her first teacher was vocalist Gábor Winand, the man rated as the most original jazz-singer in Europe by the critics of the influential French magazine, Jazzman. She also took classical singing lessons as the only jazz-oriented pupil of Júlia Bikfalvy who had coached the diva Andrea Rost to international stardom. Originally heading for a degree in English and Russian at Budapest University, after her first year, Niki Szőke had to make a choice between her studies and full-time jazz singing. Her decision may have been Academia’s loss but a colossal gain for the world of jazz. Now, at the age of 25, she is already the undisputed favourite of the cognoscenti on the Hungarian jazz scene.
[02.15.2008]
