News archive - 2003

10.22.2003

Brand new double live album:
Unplugged at the New Orleans

In 2002 Djabe gave concerts on various topics at the New Orleans Music Club in a way that on each night the program was totally different. Altogether the band played more then seven hours (!) of different types of music. On the last two nights unplugged concerts were held. Saïd Tichiti, the Moroccan musician who played on the Update record, joined the concert held on the 19 of November.

The material on the CD covers the full career of the band from the first record of Djabe published in 1996, to Sheafs are dancing, as well as new adaptations and music pieces which have not been played at concerts - lasting in total more than two hours.

The first multimedia CD includes a 14 minutes video from the first performance of the six-member Djabe, recorded in the Vasas Sportshall.

Besides the video a full band biography and discography can be found also on the CD. The visitors of the Unplugged concerts can recall the concerts with a photo album, which contains 50 pictures.

"I am convinced that one who sits down to listen to a Djabe CD with the expectation of hearing a very special and unique musical experience has never been let down. We would think that they have already shown everything that could be known about the music of the XXI. Century, and that it could not be further improved upon, but they proved us wrong with their Unplugged at the New Orleans double record. Unplugged is a cruel genre as there is no possibility to cover mistakes, contingencies with technical tricks. However, this is not necessary at these concerts.

The musicians prove individually that they are in perfect harmony with their instruments and together the performance is more than simply a summary of pieces. This “chamber” concert has proved that the band is on the right track when it integrated new members in 2001. With this new line-up Djabe managed to bring new sounds even into those compositions, which can probably be heard at every concert. The aim, which was to sound their musical ideas live, and also, to those which were already set at that time, was surely reached with this record.

In our musical life where there are crowds of groups being formed with only business intentions in mind, it is rare, but I hope despite all appearances, not unique what Djabe represents. Not being distracted by fashion, they are going forward on the road they have started, and on which expressions are sign posted such as quality, humbleness towards music, endless preciseness and spontaneity based on sheer hard work. Only those who are completely sure in their own performance can afford to work together with such different music characters as Steve Hackett, Ben Castle or Saïd Tichiti, making it authentic for the audience what they do on stage. It is not without danger when a band is so consequent in following their set aims, but I hope that the stratum, which recognizes and expects quality, within the audience has become stronger, and I am convinced that Djabe has taken a big part in making this happen."

Neltz János

09.05.2003

he Where review on the Djabe issued on 5th of September

Folk meets jazz: Djabe's jams get global

Budapest-based jazz guitarist Bruce Lewis explains the inspirations behind a unique Hungarian band

When Attila Égerházi was eight years old, he started raiding his brothers' record collections. There was the Stones, the Beatles (of course ), some blues, some jazz and ... Genesis. This last group, with their powerful, progressive sound, seemed to captivate him most. And so, when his father, noted Hungarian painter Imre Égerházi, travelled abroad for exhibitions and workshops, young Attila would always have an album wish list ready. The influence of Hungarian folk traditions, which were represented in his father's paintings, together with jazz and British progressive rock, left Attila Égerházi determined to form his own group - and to someday work with Genesis.

Now, with the release of their fifth CD, "The Sheaves are Dancing" (Táncolnak a Kazlak), Égerházi's band Djabe has turned those dreams into reality. One of his musical heroes, veteran Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett, makes a guest appearance on the album, which is further graced by the saxophone sounds of Sting alumnus Ben Castle.

The band will perform live at the Petôfi Csarnok on Sept. 20.
Djabe, which unites elements of jazz and world music, was formed in 1995 by guitarist Égerházi and percussionist András Sipos in the heady post communist atmosphere of the 1990s in Budapest. It's hard to think of a city more geographically suited to the development of global musical ideas, a city that has long been a meeting point of East and West.

True to their Ashanti name, which means "freedom", Djabe has remained flexible to new ideas. After getting his start in the early 1990s with the group Novus, a guitar/percussion duo backing the free flight improvisations of a flute player, Égerházi soon realized that he was searching for a music of lighter colours and more varied textures. Novus, he said, was beautiful but too dark. Disc by disc, Djabe began developing a signature sound. With the addition of trumpeter/violinist, Ferenc Kovács, a bandmate of Hungarian tenor sax genius Mihály Dresch, a bright new layer of sound was daubed on. The result is brilliantly displayed on the latest disc's title track - and throughout the recording. But an even more unique element of the Djabe sound has been the ever-growing creative contribution of bassist, Tamás Barabás. While the talents of this virtuoso have helped him shift into the roles of arranger and studio engineer, the powerfully melodic bass lines of his compositions have become a Djabe hallmark.

A musician is an alchemist. He gives form to what is raw. He changes negative to positive. Djabe guitarist Égerházi is no exception. Casting about in the mists of melancholy caused by his father's death two years ago, Égerházi came up with the idea of using the great man's paintings as backdrops for songs on a CD. At first, he was reluctant to approach his bandmates with an idea that might have seemed too emotional and personal. But they took to the concept immediately, and the "Táncolnak a Kazlak" project, its name taken from the title of one of the many beautifully reproduced paintings by the senior Égerházi in the CD booklet, was begun.

Toward the end of his life, Imre Égerházi frequently attended Djabe concerts and often listened to their CDs while painting. The circle of creativity thus formed between music and canvas is very palpable throughout the listening experience. As Attila says in the liner notes, "He cannot hold this CD in his hand, but maybe our music reaches him."

"The Sheaves are Dancing", which should feature heavily in their upcoming live show, has become a tribute to the links between music and painting and between father and son. The entire Djabe oeuvre is well worth wading into. Their CDs (and a live DVD, which also features former Genesis guitarist Hackett and Sting veteran Castle) can be found at most local record shops.

08.25.2003

Awesome concerts from Djabe as the introduction of the new record "Sheafs are Dancing"

Djabe, the band with awards of the Golden Giraffe and eMeRTon is giving a great range of concerts at home and abroad. On the concerts the material of their new record "Sheafs are Dancing", which was published this spring, is being performed.

For more than two hours the audience is mesmerised with the clear, quality music performed by Djabe with its music, which is trying to find its way between the borders of world music and jazz. We know Djabe well from its world-class sounding records and DVD's, and visitors can experience this quality sound in live music. The individual music, typical to Hungarian bands, can be heard in Surround 5.1.

The fabulous sound is accompanied by a highly effective light technology, which is supplemented with films and animations on screen all the way through the concert. The projected material is based on the pictures of Imre Égerházi as his pictures gave the inspiration for the records on the album. We can also see a six and a half minute animation made of the pictures from the collection of "Ice world". These pictures are based on the artist's impressions of clinical death that he had personally experienced. Therefore, the visiting audience, certainly does not have an every day experience on these concerts.

02.17.2003

Djabe - Sheafs are dancing

The Arany Zsiráf and eMeRTon award winner band has produced its best record so far of 2002-2003, The Sheafs are dancing.

The new album will be presented by domestic and foreign gigs.

The outstanding home representative of world music has this time mainly taken inspiration from the treasure of Hungarian music. Barabás Tamás's and Égerházi Attila's compositions were inspired by the paintings of the recently departed painter, Égerházi Imre. The Alföld, Hortobágy, the Transylvanian scenery and the other motives of Égerházi Imre has won a music interpretation. In a new step, among the contributors we can find the names of the pianist, Kovács Zoltán along with the violin and trumpet player, Kovács Ferenc. Sipos András, one of the founders of the band, brings new colourful sounds on his percussions. Banai Szilárd, the young, talented jazz drum player fits more and more maturely to the face of Djabe. Kovács Zoltán, once again, proves his exceptional music knowledge, this time on an acoustic piano instead of on synthesizers. And in the case of Kovács Ferenc his violin skills shine on this record. His characteristic, Hungarian, "Rustic Baroque" play vitally determines the style of the CD. He is great on the trumpet, too, as Archie Shepp claims: "... he plays the trumpet like Miles Davis." Besides the excellent bass guitar playing of Barabás Tamás we must praise his composing and sound editing works as well. Égerházi Attila assembled the vision in a genuine manner together with Barabás. His compositions and guitar playing has been fundamental again in the case of this 2003 Djabe production.

Djabe invited several guests once more to bring The Sheafs are dancing to life. From among the outstanding contributors: Steve Hackett (Genesis), his guitar playing adds an interesting colour to the sound world of this record. Ben Castle (Sting, Marillion, The Brand New Heavies) uplifts the standard of the recording with his soprano saxophone. He was previously a determining musician in the recording of UPDATE and Flying (DVD). On this album he plays on two recordings. For the very first time the 'tabla' instrument played by Szalai Péter can be heard. Herczeg Judit is also a returning guest to the Djabe recording.

The CD is published in a very decorative, paper case packaging. On the record, not only can we "listen to" the 14 paintings, but we can also admire them in the small booklet, which goes along with it. Listen to the sample

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