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.
Djabe’s studio album of 2016 sports the innovative spirit accustomed to the band.
Compared to the previous album ’Forward’, built upon the collaboration with Miskolc Symponic Orchestra ’20 Dimensions’ puts the band’s acoustic and fusion elements forward, mixed with 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 band will introduce the new album with a grand tour in June and July in Hungary, Slovenia, USA and Canada.
As opening for the tour a warmup gig at SIKK Club Debrecen will take place at 23th of June, 8PM. On 24th of June the next gig follows in Budapest Jazz Club, at 8PM.
Book your tickets for the Debrecen gig on phone no. +36 70 315 104
Tickets for the Budapest show available on site, at Gramy-H ltd. offices and jegymester.hu
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
Festive concert on the 20-year jubilee of the Djabe band.
Also, premiere for the new Djabe studio album ’20 Dimensions’.
As number one Hungarian jazz/world fusion band Djabe has numerous awards both national and international. Since the beginning the band performed in 42 countries with great success, raising the fame for both itself and Hungarian music. Attila Égerházi – the founder of the band – and Tamás Barabás – bass guitarist and musical lead – walks a consistent road. The music of Djabe constantly shifts and evolves but elements peculiar to the band are always present. This original and successful world of music gets expanded by regular musicians. Szilárd Banai, internationally renowned drummer or Zoltán Kovács the piano genius who played a key role as symphonic orchestrator on the latest album, Forward. The trumpet and violin play of Ferenc Kovács is in its own category in the Hungarian world of music, well-known and highly valued even by international star artists. Aside by his musical pieces Tamás Barabás brings bass guitar play and sound engineering performance of the highest standards.
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.
The Djabe Live in Blue Blu-Ray is ready for premier!
p>Join to the first screening at the Corvin Palace Cinema, Radványi Hall on 26th May,
8 pm. Buy one Blu-Ray at a special price 4000 HUF at the door of the hall, and join with your partner to the audience. Register at djabe@djabe.com.
The Blu-Ray disc is presenting you the legendary surround live concert's musical and audiophile experience in it's full glory or more!
Szilard Banai, Tamas Barabas, Attila Égerházi, Ferenc , Kovács Zoltán with Gulli Briem and John Nugent.
This concert film was recorded in Budapest, at the Pecsa Music Hall. It was one of the live surround shows of the Down And Up album tour. The album and the tour, especially the live 5.1 audio experience meant a milestone in the band’s history. At the show even the lights turned blue. This show is a really unbeatable performance in the jazz / world scene. To enjoy the blue show, put your Blu-Ray disc into your player, sit back, relax, and turn the volume up. The DTS-HD 5.1 audio (24bit/96khz) recreates the original experience of this concert in your home.
Djabe Live in Blue BD50, GR-116-5
Live in Blue (2 hours)
Intro, Down And Up,Take A Deep Breath, Awakening City, No Chance For Dance, Almi & Kitti, Backstreet Toys, I Remember, Dark Soup, Five Months Later, Hills Of The Valley, Angklung In The Sun, Take On, Wind And Bell, Altitude Synergy, Indian Experience, End Of A Beautiful Day, Hang Drum Song, This Is Not America, Butterfly, House On The Hill, Hortobágy At Winter, Clouds Dance, First Step, Distant Dance
Extra features
Live at the IBS (44 minutes)
Recorded in Budapest at the IBS, 30th November 2012, with Steve Hackett, and Gulli Briem. Awakening City, I Remember, Firth Of Fifth, In That Quiet Earth, Distant Dance, Los Endos, Tears For Peace
Miskolc acoustic set and Los Sipos (19 minutes)
Recorded in Miskolc at the Művészetek háza 10th November 2013,
with Miskolc Symphony Orchestra, Steve Hackett, Sára Kovács.
Walking Away From Rainbows, Ace Of Wands, Jacuzzi, Overnight Sleeper, Los Sipos
Tears For Peace video clip (7 minutes)
Djabe with Steve Hackett
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.
Under the furiously hot Hungarian sun, I performed three outdoor shows with Djabe.
It was great to get together with Attila Égerházi and the guys, and to again meet Gulli Briem, talented Icelandic drummer and singer working with them.
The Budapest show in Óbudai went well, and it was also good to see Swiss / Italian friends Roger and Maria Salem. The drive there was stunning across the bridge in the sunshine with a panorama of castle, cliffs and river, then back at night the view of dozens of birds illuminated as they swooped around the dome of the floodlit parliament building.
We then journeyed to Hécis Deák Tér in the area of Lake Balaton, one of the largest lakes in Europe and a beautiful holiday destination. There are thermal waters in and around the lake, and rising up on one side of it ancient volcanic hills. We soundchecked in the blazing sun, which thankfully had gone down by the time the show began! Extraordinary good vibes from audience and such varied music with Djabe.
Our final gig was at Hajdúszoboszló, Szabadtéri Szinpad (some places have very long names... Don't attempt to pronounce this after a flagon of brandy! You might just catch fire) We journeyed over hills and across the wide open planes of Hungary to the area near the Romanian border. Our destination was another place with thermal waters, which appear all over the country, adding to the magic of the land. Once again it was a funfair of a show with a great crowd, and my wife Jo joined us on the Anklung section.
On the road I had a chance to listen to the new Djabe album "Forward" which features some stunning orchestral work and is a great mix of styles from orchestra to fusion and world music. I guested on a few of the tracks. The attraction is the various musical branches all appearing from one tree...
Ben Fenner, Jo and I are about to return home now, with only two days to go before the Italian tour... As always, it's been a special experience with Djabe. Warmest thanks to Attila and all the Djabe team, and we very much look forward to our next visit.
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)
DVD 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.
The Award Winning Djabe album Witchi Tai To released 15 years ago. The 2013 anniversary new stereo and 5.1 mixes will be released in 2014 in a luxury 4 disc box, with tons of audio and video extras. Enjoy the Djabe videoclip and the new mix of the Early Morning Snow.
The Djabe show recorded in March at Pecsa Music Hall is mixing and editing for Blu-Ray release. Special guests are Gulli Briem (Mezzoforte) and John Nugent (Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett). We hope you will enjoy the Medley 1 from the show.
In addition Djabe is also making a new studio album!
HUNGARIAN HORIZONS AND CARPATHIAN CASTLES - NOVEMBER 2013
Steve Hackett's blog
Budapest and the Danube at sunset
Ben and Steve take a break
An early flight to Budapest and Ben, Jo and I arrived at Attila's studio in time for afternoon rehearsal with Djabe. It was good as always to see them all again. Then aboard the Columbus the following night for a warm up gig on the Danube with a fabulous view of Budapest.
Next day across the border into Slovakia we played in Nove Mesto Nad Vahom. the following day we drove through the edge of the Carpathian Mountains, where ruined fortresses cling to rocky crags and mist swirls around the lower forested slopes. Gateway to the realm of vampires, wolves and haunted castles...
And so on to Kosice, an atmospheric Slovakian town of towering turrets and vaulted cellars. The gig here had a dynamic vibe with enthusiastic crowd, and I believe the undead wisely hid away undercover in the forests...
The last show in Miskolc involved the Miskolc Symphony Orchestra. It was a joy to play with a combination of Djabe, Ferenc Kovak's' daughter Sára on flute and string players from the orchestra. We all celebrated into the night afterwards, joined by friend Roger Salem who coined the term zweets for my ring noises on guitar...
The following morning Attila showed us a forested hill just outside Miskolc, where caves nestle in the rock face and a Gothic style hotel stands proud above a lake. Leaving that magical realm, we headed on back to Blighty...
A big thanks to Attila and all the Djabe team, as we'll as the promotors, and orchestra with director Adam Horvath.
Djabe 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.
Musicians:
Steve Hackett – vocal, guitar
Kovács Ferenc – vocal, trumpet, violin
Kovács Zoltán – keyboards
Égerházi Attila – guitar, percussion
Barabás Tamás – bass guitar
Banai Szilárd – drums
Tracklist:
A side
City Of Habi
The Steppes
Butterfly
B side
Scenes – Above Poland
Scenes – Sunset At The Seaside
Steve’s Acoustic Set
Ace Of Wands
Flowers Stillness
C side
Rush For Ménes
Strange Places
Rush For Ménes Reprise
Last Train to Istanbul
Summer Storms
Rocking Rivers (Angklung)
D side
Firth Of Fifth
In That Quiet Earth
Distant Dance
Los Endos
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.
It was great to reconnect with Attila and all our Djabe friends when Ben Fenner, Jo and I arrived in Budapest. Our pals Angéla & Maurizio Vicedomini and Roger Salem also joined us...
There was a real buzz in the audience at the Djabe show, which featured both their material and mine, along with the song Tears for Peace from their new album. The music for the song plus title was written by Djabe, lyrics by Jo, and I added vocal and guitar. The song is about war victims. I'm convinced it's not the normal guy who creates war - it's extremists and the profit motive. The cruelty and futility of it all makes me sad and angry.
The other two days were given over to filming a video for Tears for Peace around Budapest, which provided a spectacular backdrop, and as the sun set over the Danube we all played for the video on a boat.
The next day was an extraordinary event... I was required to stand in the command position of a tank, singing the song through a loud hailer, whilst beckoning the band to jump onboard (clambering on to it was a precarious experience) The monster machine started up with an enormous explosion of power, steam bursting out of it as it rattled and roared down the cobbled street. As we played and sang on this vehicle into the city you can imagine how it attracted a fair amount of interest! I wondered how people would react after what they had been through in Budapest, but they generally looked on with intrigue and amusement.
Four days of several vehicles, including plane, boat, car, bus and tank... It's always an adventure with Djabe and this was no exception! I look forward as ever to our next encounter. A big thank you from Jo and me to Ben, Feri, Gabor, Djabe guys Tamás, Zoltán, Szilárd, Ferenc and especially Attila for all the hospitality and an experience which will always stay with us.
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.gramy.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.
The mission... To play four shows in five days covering three countries - Hungary, Romania and Austria with irrepressible fusionites Djabe, whose World music spans gypsy jazz to blue note and back again.
Day one - departure from Gatwick arriving in time for a quick crepe and rehearsal in downtown Budapest. My hired Marshall throbbed at Gramy Music HQ against the backdrop of Indonesian anklungs that chime like exotic wooden bells.
Day two - a stop-over in Kecskemet for a radio interview and airplay where Djabe sounded knock-out over the airwaves with a kind of Miles Davis meets Hendrix vibe. Then in Szentes we had a fabulous lunch at the Chicago restaurant, decorated with photos of the band Chicago and owned by real music enthusiast brother of the evening show's promoter. The gig was a sell-out and enjoyed by all...
Adjoining our hotel was a huge ruined palace-like structure that could have featured in Dr Zhivago... beautiful yet crumbling like a Tsarina's cake. Ghostly and deserted, a forgotten song moaning through skeletal archways in the windswept night.
Day three - on to Kecskemet, with its elegant Baroque past contrasting with 20th Century Brave New World Lego blocks. We played to an enthusiastic crowd there before driving into the night for a brief shut-eye in Budapest. The dreams continued with open eyes as we left early the following morning to cross the wild and windy plains, where you could visualise the Magyar tribes who rode in to claim this expanse over a thousand years ago.
We reached Oradea in Romania in time for interviews and a delicious meal in an atmospheric cellar. This beautiful city that has also been part of Hungary has attracted many artists and poets over the centuries. The descendants of Vlad, who inspired Bram Stoker's Dracula, have long been linked to the region. We heard that one of the actresses who performs at the stunning old theatre where we played that night carries the family name of Vlad... here I was given a special bottle of red wine and interviewed by Transylvanian Radio...
Day four - after our return to Budapest Jo and I visited the Tropicarium with Attila of Djabe and his family, where we saw some extraordinary sharks and alligators...
Day five - and so on to our last destination, following the course of the Danube up-stream to where it narrows near the end of the great plain and flows through splendid Vienna, with its amazing buildings, horses and carts and dark alleys which bring The Third Man meets The Night Porterto mind. The gig at the Porgy and Bess club jammed on into the night with all the exciting surprises that Djabe presents.
Day six - Attila showed Jo, Ben and I around the centre of Vienna. Wonderful statues glowed in the sunlight along with gilded porticoes and green roofs. The old Gothic cathedral is extraordinary. By the time we were flying back home from Budapest it all felt like an exotic dream of a world of music amidst plains, domes and spires...
As always, an amazing experience. Many thanks from Jo and myself to Ben Fenner, all the promoters, the fabulous Djabe team and particularly to Attila Égerházi, who put the whole tour together.
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. Ben Castle, 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: 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
The double DVD housed in elegant digipak.
There is a one disc release, which contains the first DVD. This can be bought in a DVDAudio Super Jewel Box packaging.
Djabe is the leading world music/jazz fusion band of Hungary. In the past 16 years since it was established, they have received several Hungarian and international awards and nominations.
They have released 30 studio and concert albums altogether in LP, CD or DVD format. Djabe is one of the most sought-after Hungarian bands. They have so far performed in 42 countries of 3 continents to great success.
Since 2007, Djabe has toured with the guitarist of the legendary band Genesis, Steve Hackett. The musician who once used to play with Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins has by now integrated completely into the unique world of Djabe. They have made several studio and concert albums together. They appeared as top acts of fully booked concerts and festivals all around Europe and Asia. In Garana, Romania, 13 thousand people raved to their music.
The repertoire of Djabe with Steve Hackett is unique even in the versatile world of the band. The rock elements in the programme are intensified by Steve’s performance. Steve fits as an organic part into the compositions of Djabe. In return, Djabe delivers an authentic performance of those by Genesis and Steve Hackett as their own. The band holds a surprise for every single tour. To mention a few characteristic pieces from their concert programmes: City of Habi, Dark Soup, Distant Dance (Djabe), Firth of Fifth, In that Quiet Earth (Genesis), Ace of Wands, The Steppes, Last Train to Istanbul (Steve Hackett).
Line up:
Steve Hackett – guitar
Szilárd Banai – drums
Tamás Barabás – bass
Attila Égerházi – guitar
Ferenc Kovács – vocal, violin, trumpet
Zoltán Kovács keyboards
It’s not hard to figure out why Djabe is the leading jazz-fusion band of Hungary. The
group’s music is filled with lush textures and appealing melodies. Group member Kovács Ferenc, who has worked with David Murray and Archie Shepp, is an excellent soloist on trumpet, flugelhorn, and violin. RochesterCitynews
All of us think that Djabe is a very good music! Mia Hansson, StockholmJazz
One of the best fusion band all over the World! John Nugent, artistic director, Rochester International Jazz Festival, NY, USA
Extraordinary players. Flexible team that varies from show to show. Steve Hackett
Spring tour:
03.30.2012. Szentes, Lajtha László Alapfokú Művészeti Iskola és Hangversenyközpont, 7 pm, Hungary 03.31.2012. Kecskemét, Kecskeméti Kulturális és Konferencia Központ, 7 pm, Hungary 04.01.2012. Oradea, Theatre, 7 pm, Romania 04.03.2012. Wien, Porgy and Bess club, 9 pm, Austria
01.05.2012.
The first fifteen years - The story of Djabe based on the interwievs from Djabe 15
Author Evgeny Salamatin
Founded in 1995 by Attila Égerházi (guitars) and András Sipos (percussion, vocals), DJABE released a row of studio and live albums, became the number 1 jazz/world fusion band in Hungary and played during these years in 42 countries. These first class musicians created their own, unique sound. Elements of jazz, rock, Hungarian, European and African folklore are mixed in absolutely natural, organic way. The more I listen to Djabe music, the more I love it.
Wherever they play, Djabe are always warmly received by listeners and critics. I guess these two opinions sum up well numerous positive reports:
"The best band I've ever played with." – Steve Hackett.
"By the end of the concert we will become slightly different people..." – International DVD Magazine.
Attila Égerházi, bandleader, founder member, guitarist and composer, the manager of his own record label Gramy Records, kindly agreed to answer our questions. But when we prepared this interview it became clear that many questions were already answered in interviews made for the band’s 15th Anniversary DVD “Djabe 15”. Thus Djabe musicians, Tamás Barabás (bass), Ferenc Kovács (violin, trumpet, vocals), Szilárd Banai (drums), Zoltan Kovács (keyboards), and the band’s friend and long-time collaborator Steve Hackett virtually joined our conversation*.
Attila, welcome to ProgArchives. Last year Djabe celebrated their 15-th anniversary, my congratulations. Let's talk about the band's music, its members, some moments of Djabe biography and other things related, not necessarily directly, to your music.
Attila, your father was a painter artist, your grandfather was a conductor and multi-instrumentalist. You graduated Technical University. Was it a tough choice to make music your profession?
Attila Égerházi: No, it was easy to choose the music, but was a zig-zag way to pull out something really professional.
My approach to the music let me create an exciting music, and I was lucky in finding my band and soul mates, all fantastic professionals...
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, Ben Castle, 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, Ben Castle, Malik Mansurov, Áron Koós-Hutás, Ferenc Muck, Mihály Dresch, Viktor Tóth
Ben Fenner, Jo and I have just returned from Hungary after a swift series of gigs with Djabe in that land of intellectual thinkers and hardy party goers who celebrate into the night, where the heat of the day lingers until it sometimes explodes into the most spectacular night storms I have ever seen... It has to be said that guitars like their players enjoy the heat of a good summer. It certainly makes the fingers fly. Hungary was hot. They still have real summers there.
Djabe literally at the helm on a boat, I familiarised with the new set in the warm up gig. They wanted me to incorporate acoustic guitar as well as electric. I was only too willing to oblige. Djabe's music covers many styles from Jazz to funk with Ferenc Kovak's gypsy violin material and Miles Davis style trumpet. Sometimes after a flight and a day's drive you feel like you're on a boat, and this time we actually were. The river was our home for the evening with a backdrop of domes, turrets and dramatic cliffs. Stomping into the night on the Blue Danube was extraordinary. Budapest audiences are always open to musical hybrids. They love unrepeatable riffs, dangerous line-ups and unlikely collisions.
Next day - Bratislava. You might be forgiven for thinking that Bratislava sounds like a whole country but it's the capital city of Slovakia, which like both Budapest and Vienna, proudly overlooks the Danube.
By now we were doing a version of Firth of Fifth with Ferenc's violin opening with that famous melody which has been interpreted by instruments as varied as piano, flute, soprano sax, electric and acoustic guitars. An eastern flavoured melody played in Eastern Europe, returning to its roots in front of an audience open to all surprises...
The heat, then the storms! Huge jagged thunder bolts flashing across skies aglow with sheet lightning, followed by an attack of hailstones the size of your fist... an extraordinary sky battle observed from the open road night journey. We frequently slowed to avoid skidding. Then a sudden calm as we climbed out in Budapest, with just the sound of crickets through a gentle warm breeze.
On to the rock festival in Tokaj the following day, beside vineyards and another beautiful river. Shades of Glastonbury or do I mean Glasnost, along with lots of noisy tattoos and near naked bodies along with the odd Viking or two - you get the scene after a thousand years of festivals in the wake of Woodstock. Here our friend Roger Salem from Switzerland joined us and we all enjoyed the variety of music from other bands before blasting into our own show.
Another huge storm enveloped us as we drove away across terrain as flat as the American prairie on to Debrecen, original home of Djabe's Attila and the second largest city in Hungary. The town was in the grip of wedding procession and folk dancing mania all afternoon... Whatever Happened to Baby Jane meets Children of the Corn - a bit like those scenes in Live and Let Die where the trad jazz funeral provides cloud cover for the murder, alongside some wild pagan rites.
As night fell the electric experience took over. Marshall amps rolled out and we strolled on to the stage. It was a dynamic gig with an enthusiastic audience.
A whirlwind tour, two storms and a rock festival. I'm sure Hungary never sleeps. Even though we've left the party is still going on. A big thank you to friends Peter and Kriszta for their wonderful hospitality, Ben for all his help, Attila for organising everything, and all of Djabe for involving me with their ever evolving shows. Until next time... we love you Hungary.
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
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.
Tickets for the Columbus gig (3000 HUF):
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
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!
Live recordings alive
„Djabe started out on a 15th anniversary jubilee tour in 2010. The tour featured regular guest Steve Hackett, who joined the band in Hungary (Budapest, Debrecen, Pécs), as well as in Russia, Bulgaria and Serbia. These gigs were recorded and the material of their new double concert album published under the title In the Footsteps of Attila and Genghis was compiled from them. Steve wrote a blog about the tour with the same title. The double disc, which is available in a beautiful paper case painted by Imre Égerházi, has a few surprises in store not only for Djabe fans, but those of Genesis, too. Those who have heard the band live know perfectly well that they not only perform their own compositions but some by Genesis and Steve Hackett as a solo artist as well. Moreover, they deliver an extraordinary quality to them. Those who were not fortunate enough to witness their mutual performances now have the opportunity to hear how the band and Steve were made for each other.
The core of the album is made up from Djabe hits – old ones and new – yet two hits by Genesis and another two by Hackett have found their way to an album at last. Why at last? Formerly, these brilliant pieces could only be heard live.
The album features a guide written by Steve Hackett in which he recalls the mutual experiences and enumerates the stations of the tour. Both discs feature extras accessible on computer. In the case of the first disc, it is part of a concert recording in Serbia in 2010. The second one features an excerpt from a concert given in Malaysia in 2008, where Steve also joined the band, as well as a short backstage tour.
The album is a compilation of the best moments of the jubilee tour, but in spite of the fact that the songs following each other were recorded at different concerts they form a perfect unity. Steve is not a guest at all but a member of the band. The work relationship that has lasted for years now welded the band together, and the programme heard on the album presents the listeners with an experience that can be encountered during a live show. A joyous festival of making music can be heard throughout the album which makes us feel as if we were right there at the concert. The magic of live music comes through entirely.”
review by Zoltán Gerébi (A Genesis világa – The World of Genesis – site)
We celebrated our 15th anniversary year in 2010. This event triggered the occasion to have a lookback and to summarize all that had been achieved. During those 15 years, invaluable audio and video recordings have been made. Some of them were released, yet events sped up in such extent from time to time that we had no energy to cut and edit them. Thus they could not become public. In 2010, we began to process these materials, which are going to be released in the next two years besides our current recordings and concerts.
Djabe special guest Steve Hackett: In the footsteps of Attila and Genghis - 2 CD
Among the Djabe releases to be published in the near future, the first one is a double CD that was recorded by the band in the summer of 2010 during the tour with Steve Hackett. This tour reached Russia, Hungary, Bulgaria and Serbia (in chronological order). The show featured Djabe classics as well as Steve Hackett’s own compositons and a few ones which originated from Genesis. From the two most exciting pieces of the recording, the first one is the Dark Soup composition, which is to be featured on the forthcoming studio album by Djabe making it a world premiere. The guitar play of Steve Hackett is an essential part of this particular piece. The other speciality is Steve Hackett’s Last Train to Istanbul taken from his latest solo album Out of the Tunnel’s Mouth. The song had not even been performed live 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. The double CD is due to be released in January, 2010 and will feature:
Steve Hackett – guitar, vocal;
Banai Szilárd – drums;
Barabás Tamás – bass guitar;
Égerházi Attila – guitar, percussions, vocal;
Kovács Ferenc – trumpet, violin, vocal;
Kovács Zoltán – keyboards;
Koós-Hutás Áron - 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
CD2
Doromb, Butterfly, Last Train to Istanbul, In That Quiet Earth, Genghis’ sword, Behind the Veil, Omachule excerpt
Listen online:
Djabe: Dark Soup
Djabe: Update 5.1 - 2 DVD
The 5.1 version of UPDATE is to come out in March. Tamás Barabás has reinvented the album in a fantastic surround mix. The release is to be published in a DVD format with a handful of special features: a filmed interview with Tamás Barabás about the reissue of the album, and another one with English saxophonist Ben Castle, which was shot during the recordings. In this film, the viewer can get a glimpse at the studio works of the album. Further footages can also be found on the disc, among them one about the eMeRTon gala, where the band was presented an award for this particular disc. Another 40 minutes of hitherto unseen concert footages are included, which were recorded for the Flying DVD made about the UPDATE tour. In the end, a different version of the songs was included in the first ever Hungarian jazz/world DVD. The new release of UPDATE will also come out in a double-disc version. The core of the second disc is a whole recording of the Szolnok concert of the UPDATE tour, which can also be heard in a 5.1 surround sound besides the stereo mix. The second disc also contains special features, the TV footage about Djabe performing in Bratislava or an excerpt of the Duna TV studio concert from August, 2001, for instance. On this disc, several members of Djabe reminisce about the time of the UPDATE album and tour.
Reissue interview, details
Djabe: Slices of live - DVD
The Budapest concert of the Slices of Life tour took place on 3 March, 2006. The concert given at Petőfi Hall was recorded by 12 cameras. It was due to be released in 2007 but the death of András Sipos caused post production to stop and the tribute concert in Sipi’s memory to commence instead. The whole recoded material of the brand new studio album was performed then. The extra features include a compilation of footages shot during the international tour of the band. Release due in summer 2010.
Djabe 15 - 2 DVD
Featuring Steve Hackett, Ben Castle, Malik Mansurov, Áron Koós – Hutás, Ferenc Muck, Viktor Tóth, Mihály Dresch, Said Tichiti, Gábor Bakó.
Djabe celebrated their 15th anniversary with a grand concert at the Palace of Arts. The show was a compilation of the most important stations of the band’s whole oeuvre. The concert also featured musicians who took part in the 15 years of the band either as members or guests. The release will also include the Djabe 15 concert, which was held after the sold-out show at the Palace of Arts in May at the Take Five Club in Budapest. The most important special feature on the disc is a comprehensive series of interviews which László Zeke made with the members of Djabe and their guest performers. The double DVD entitled Djabe 15 is due in April.
Djabe: The Last Tour with Sipi - 2 DVD
Djabe organized an intensive tour in Europe and North America in the summer of 2007. Various footages of the concerts were shot in several countries. However, the core of the release is the one performed in Budapest. One of the special features to be mentioned is the concert and documentary-style film entitled Djabe 24, which is a kind of parody of the popular TV series 24. In this film, the Austrian concert of the band filmed at the jazz festival of Wiesen can be seen in its entirety.
As our special gift, the full audio recording of the concert in Wiesen can be downloaded:
Táncolnak a kazlak 0-6:48, City of Habi 6:48-14:17, Band Introduction 14:17-17:04, Omachule 17:04-27:36, Wiesen 27:36-30:25, Bass Solo 30:25-35:25, Djabe 35:25-44:00
Djabe – Sheafs are dancing - studio and live (2016 edition)
Djabe 20 Dimensions 
Djabe: Ly-O-Lay Ale Loya
The Djabe Live in Blue Blu-Ray is ready for premier!
Djabe: Live in Blue
Djabe: Live in Blue
Enjoying the sunshine before the last gig
07.02.2014.
Djabe’s 1998 album was the second in the band’s history.
Djabe 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.
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. 
10th Anniversary 5.1 reissue on double DVD
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.
Djabe hits the road once again in July with Steve Hackett. The tour will reach Hungary and Slovakia.
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).
Among the Djabe releases to be published in the near future, the first one is a double CD that was recorded by the band in the summer of 2010 during the tour with Steve Hackett. This tour reached Russia, Hungary, Bulgaria and Serbia (in chronological order). The show featured Djabe classics as well as Steve Hackett’s own compositons and a few ones which originated from Genesis. From the two most exciting pieces of the recording, the first one is the Dark Soup composition, which is to be featured on the forthcoming studio album by Djabe making it a world premiere. The guitar play of Steve Hackett is an essential part of this particular piece. The other speciality is Steve Hackett’s Last Train to Istanbul taken from his latest solo album Out of the Tunnel’s Mouth. The song had not even been performed live 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. The double CD is due to be released in January, 2010 and will feature: