Alumni

Sipos András

1954-2007

He was born in Budapest on 14 March 1954. He completed his studies at the Academy of Dramatic and Cinematic Art in 1981. In his childhood he learnt to play the accordion and later the drums. His attention turned towards handheld percussion instruments in the 1970s. His authentic style soon made him the best djembe player in Hungary. His master was Babatünde Olatunji. Acting and music played a great part in his life concurrently until 1998. He achieved significant successes with his percussion ensemble called Macumba, which he founded with István Bubik and Tamás Ruzicska. They played together with such bands as LGT, Illés and Neoton. He was also an important member of the legendary actors’ orchestra. He played unforgettable roles in the musical plays of Vígszínház and Pesti Színház (Fekete Péter, Book of the Jungle), as well as feature films (Csacsacsa, Üvegtigris 2).

In 1994 he joined Attila Égerházi’s band called Novus Jam. After releasing two albums, they founded the Djabe group, which received several awards and nominations in Hungary and abroad. He lived exclusively for music from 1998. In the few years before his death he appeared in 20 countries with the group, whose successes were largely a result of his contribution.

Ferenc Kovács
trumpet, violin, vocal

He was born in Budapest in 1957. His father was a Munkácsy Award winner sculptor, his mother is a painter artist. He graduated from Ferenc Liszt Teacher Training College for Music as a singing, solfeggio and trumpet teacher.

He began to work for the Postás Symphonic Orchestra as a first trumpet, later for the dance company of the People’s Theatre (Népszínház). During his career he has taken part in the work of several contemporary creative studios. He worked with the 180 Group and in the MAKUZ band of Szabados György. He was a founding member of Budapest Ragtime Band for which he worked for 15 years. He used to be a pillar of the Mihály Dresch Quartet for a long time, but the cooperation with our saxophone artist, who is deep-rooted in folk art, still goes on.

He has worked with the Kálmán Balogh Gipsy Cymbalom Band since 1994, of which he is nowadays becoming a key member. As a solo violinist, he played in several plays of Péter Gerzson’s TRANZ DANZ company. Among the international stars he has collaborated with Balanescu, Steve Hackett, David Murrey, Hamid Drake and Archie Shepp, who claimed “apart from being one of the best violinists of the world, he can play the trumpet like Miles Davis.” In the year 2009, he got a commission to compose the soundtrack to the film “The Last Report about Anna” directed by Márta Mészáros.

In 2001, his most notable solo production in the Hungarian music scene, the CD Magony came out, for whose performance a band was established. The Magony Orchestra, which plays Hungarian rustic baroque music, is one of the most individual Hungarian musical formations.

His compositions are based on Hungarian folk music, jazz and contemporary music as well. In the past ten years, Ferenc Kovács has brought out several important albums with Gramy Records that were received both by the critics and the public well. On these albums he collaborated with such performers as Mihály Dresch, Kálmán Balogh, Mátyás Szandai, Szilárd Banai, Zoltán Kovács and Péter Bede.

He was already a true performer on the first recording of Djabe band in 1996. From 2001 he has been a permanent member, an essential soloist of the band. Not only his authentic playing the violin, which can be traced back to roots in the folklore, but his characteristic singing voice is also an essential carrier of Djabe’s world of Hungarian music. Kovács is a European champion of kendo, he is still an active trainer. The wine he produces and the meals he prepares are famous all over distant lands, his rustic carved pieces of furniture have gained many admirers. Ferenc Kovács, aka “Öcsi” is a Hungaricum.

Szilárd Banai
drums

He was born in Cegléd in 1978.
He began his musical career as a cellist in his birthplace. After years of studying the cello, he turned to playing the drums for which his mother’s profession as a percussion teacher gave a strong inspiration.

He graduated from the Béla Bartók Secondary Music School in Budapest. He got his degree at the Ferenc List Academy of Music as a jazz drums player with outstanding results. Even at the beginning of his career he was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to play with the most outstanding jazz musicians of Hungary, such as Aladár Pege, Károly Binder, Miklós Birta and Stúdió 11. He is a permanent guest of drums festivals held annually. He has become a renowned and popular performer by now, who is gladly invited to participate in bands playing music of different styles.

He has been a drummer of Djabe since 2000. His play being dynamic and melodic at the same time provides the best groove to the sound of Djabe. Since the decease of András Sipos, he has played percussion in the band as well. During the course of foreign festivals, the greatest star drummers also expressed their adoration of Szilu’s performance. In 2008, he received the “Golden Drumstick Award”, which is given by the Hungarian Perscussion Culture Fund.

Besides Djabe, he is also a permanent member of János Nagy’s trio, the Full Playback band.

Zoltán Kovács
keyboards

He was born in Eger in 1973. He attended primary and secondary school in Győr. He graduated the Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest in 1998. Apart from studying classical composing and piano he has been engaged with jazz since the age of 13.

He has been a member of Tea band since 1997. Apart from the Friderikusz Show and Luxor Show (on TV), he takes the credit for several jazz and pop music pieces, orchestrations, and theatrical performances. He joined the Djabe band in December 2000. Next to trumpet player and violinist, Ferenc Kovács, he is also a seeded soloist of the band. He has so far enchanted the audiences of 42 countries with his ingenious play. At Djabe concerts, he often ventures towards classical sounds during his solo piano recital, which always proves a colourful intermezzo at these performances. Steve Hackett, guitarist of Genesis and a returning participant at Djabe concerts uttered his greatest admiration for the play of Zoltán Kovács.

Apart from being an active musician, he has undertaken musical pedagogy work in Győr.