György Szabados
Encyclopedia
György Szabados was a Hungarian jazz
pianist, and is sometimes referred to as the "father" or "unofficial king" of the Hungarian
free jazz
movement since the 1960s.
. Even though he started performing in 1962, his rise to fame is generally considered to have started with his quintet winning the renowned San Sebastian Jazz Festival Grand Prize in the free jazz category in 1972. His first album that was recorded with a quartet in 1975 was entitled Wedding. Despite the abstraction of the music, the record was well received in Hungary and abroad, thereby setting the scene for his subsequent albums. International recognition is probably noted by including the album in The Essential Jazz Records compiled by Max Harrison, Eric Thacker and Stuart Nicholson (Volume 2: Modernism to Postmodernism). Even though he could not record again until 1983, he maintained his status by establishing the Kassák Workshop for Contemporary Music, in which a new generation of musicians acquired a free and intuitive manner of playing jazz, with a distinct Hungarian sound. Generally, his collaborators would make up the next generation of Hungarian jazz, including acclaimed saxophone player Mihály Dresch
. Further international recognition followed in the 1980s, through his collaboration with Anthony Braxton
on their duo record Szabraxtondos. In Hungary, he proceeded to form MAKUZ, or the Royal Hungarian Court Orchestra, which membership varied, but always consisted of at least nice musicians that were committed to free, improvised music. Subsequently, he still collaborated with Roscoe Mitchell
on their 1998 record Jelenés (Revelation) and again with Braxton
and Vladimir Tarasov
this time for the live recording Triotone. He was awarded the Kossuth Prize
, the most prestigious cultural award in Hungary, in 2011 by the President of Hungary. He died in Nagymaros
on 10 June 2011.
, mainly from Transsylvania. Apart from direct folk associations, this influenced on Szabados' work was to a great extent mediated through the work of Hungarian composer Béla Bartók
(1881–1945), who pioneered the reintegration of folk tradition in classical by his numerous field recordings. As he formulated it himself:
Apart from folk influences in his work, Szabados always gave clear references to other key instances of Hungarian culture. His 1983 record Adyton, for instance, is partially a reference to Hungarian poet Endre Ady
, whereas his 1989 album A szarvassá vált fiak (Sons that became deer) was inspired by the Hungarian revolution of 1956. Choosing the word Adyton
as a title for his record also shows the Szabados' philosophical thinking about his music.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
pianist, and is sometimes referred to as the "father" or "unofficial king" of the Hungarian
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
free jazz
Free jazz
Free jazz is an approach to jazz music that was first developed in the 1950s and 1960s. Though the music produced by free jazz pioneers varied widely, the common feature was a dissatisfaction with the limitations of bebop, hard bop, and modal jazz, which had developed in the 1940s and 1950s...
movement since the 1960s.
Biography
Szabados was born in BudapestBudapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
. Even though he started performing in 1962, his rise to fame is generally considered to have started with his quintet winning the renowned San Sebastian Jazz Festival Grand Prize in the free jazz category in 1972. His first album that was recorded with a quartet in 1975 was entitled Wedding. Despite the abstraction of the music, the record was well received in Hungary and abroad, thereby setting the scene for his subsequent albums. International recognition is probably noted by including the album in The Essential Jazz Records compiled by Max Harrison, Eric Thacker and Stuart Nicholson (Volume 2: Modernism to Postmodernism). Even though he could not record again until 1983, he maintained his status by establishing the Kassák Workshop for Contemporary Music, in which a new generation of musicians acquired a free and intuitive manner of playing jazz, with a distinct Hungarian sound. Generally, his collaborators would make up the next generation of Hungarian jazz, including acclaimed saxophone player Mihály Dresch
Mihály Dresch
Mihály Dresch is a Hungarian saxophone player, and one of the most interesting jazz and folk musicians on the current Budapest scene. Specifically his merger of the American free-jazz tradition with elements of traditional Hungarian folk has led to inspired, unexpected pieces of modern music...
. Further international recognition followed in the 1980s, through his collaboration with Anthony Braxton
Anthony Braxton
Anthony Braxton is an American composer, saxophonist, clarinettist, flautist, pianist, and philosopher. Braxton has released well over 100 albums since the 1960s...
on their duo record Szabraxtondos. In Hungary, he proceeded to form MAKUZ, or the Royal Hungarian Court Orchestra, which membership varied, but always consisted of at least nice musicians that were committed to free, improvised music. Subsequently, he still collaborated with Roscoe Mitchell
Roscoe Mitchell
Roscoe Mitchell is an African American composer, jazz instrumentalist and educator, mostly known for being "a technically superb—if idiosyncratic—saxophonist." He has been called "one of the key figures" in avant-garde jazz who has been "at the forefront of modern music" for the past...
on their 1998 record Jelenés (Revelation) and again with Braxton
Anthony Braxton
Anthony Braxton is an American composer, saxophonist, clarinettist, flautist, pianist, and philosopher. Braxton has released well over 100 albums since the 1960s...
and Vladimir Tarasov
Vladimir Tarasov
Vladimir Tarasov is a Russian animator and animation director. He studied at the Moscow Polygraphic Institute from 1965 until 1970....
this time for the live recording Triotone. He was awarded the Kossuth Prize
Kossuth Prize
The Kossuth Prize is a state-sponsored award in Hungary, named after the Hungarian politician and revolutionary Lajos Kossuth. The Prize was established in 1948 by the Hungarian National Assembly, to acknowledge outstanding personal and group achievements in the fields of...
, the most prestigious cultural award in Hungary, in 2011 by the President of Hungary. He died in Nagymaros
Nagymaros
- External links :*...
on 10 June 2011.
Influences
Szabados' work and thinking is distinctly placed in Hungarian culture. Most importantly, a good deal of his music is influenced by Hungarian folk musicHungarian folk music
Hungarian folk music includes a broad array of styles, including the recruitment dance verbunkos, the csárdás and nóta.During the 20th century, Hungarian composers were influenced by the traditional music of their nation which may be considered as a repeat of the early "nationalist" movement of the...
, mainly from Transsylvania. Apart from direct folk associations, this influenced on Szabados' work was to a great extent mediated through the work of Hungarian composer Béla Bartók
Béla Bartók
Béla Viktor János Bartók was a Hungarian composer and pianist. He is considered one of the most important composers of the 20th century and is regarded, along with Liszt, as Hungary's greatest composer...
(1881–1945), who pioneered the reintegration of folk tradition in classical by his numerous field recordings. As he formulated it himself:
'Apart from the occasional moments, it is difficult to find traces of Bartók's music in our music. Hungarian music has such characteristic features that, when they appear, they are immediately linked to Bartók, whereas the real kinship is not with Bartók but, on a much deeper level, with Hungarian music, a world view, and a special taste'
Apart from folk influences in his work, Szabados always gave clear references to other key instances of Hungarian culture. His 1983 record Adyton, for instance, is partially a reference to Hungarian poet Endre Ady
Endre Ady
Endre Ady was a Hungarian poet.-Biography:Ady was born in Érmindszent, Szilágy county . He belonged to an impoverished Calvinist noble family...
, whereas his 1989 album A szarvassá vált fiak (Sons that became deer) was inspired by the Hungarian revolution of 1956. Choosing the word Adyton
Adyton
The adyton or adytum was a restricted area within the cella of a Greek or Roman temple. Its name meant "inaccessible" or "do not enter". The adyton was frequently a small area at the farthest end of the cella from the entrance: at Delphi it measured just nine by twelve feet. The adyton would...
as a title for his record also shows the Szabados' philosophical thinking about his music.
Awards
- 1983: Ferenc Liszt Prize
- 1990: Artisjus
- 1995: Anna Neufeld
- 2001: His album Time Flies was voted Record of the Year in Hungary
- 2001: Szabó Gábor Life Achievement Award (Hungarian Jazz Federation)
- 2011: Kossuth Prize (awarded by the President of the Hungarian Republic)
Discography
- 1964 György Szabados: B-A-C-H élmények (Modern Jazz Anthology 64) Qualiton LPX 7279-80
- 1975 György Szabados: Az esküvő (The Wedding) Hungaroton-Pepita SLPX 17475
- 1980 György Szabados: Szabados Jazz
- 1983 György Szabados: Adyton Hungaroton-Krém SLPX 17724
- 1985 György Szabados/Anthony BraxtonAnthony BraxtonAnthony Braxton is an American composer, saxophonist, clarinettist, flautist, pianist, and philosopher. Braxton has released well over 100 albums since the 1960s...
: Szabraxtondos Hungaroton-Krém SLPX 17909 - 1989 György Szabados: A szarvassá vált fiak (Sons that became deer) Hungaroton-Krém SLPX 37215
- 1991 György Szabados és a Makuz: Homoki Zene Adyton 005
- 1992 György Szabados: A szent főnixmadár dürrögései Adyton 004
- 1992 Szabados Trio Elfelejtett énekek (Forgotten Songs) Fonó Records FA 12-01
- 1998 György Szabados/Roscoe MitchellRoscoe MitchellRoscoe Mitchell is an African American composer, jazz instrumentalist and educator, mostly known for being "a technically superb—if idiosyncratic—saxophonist." He has been called "one of the key figures" in avant-garde jazz who has been "at the forefront of modern music" for the past...
: Jelenés (Revelation) Fonó Records FA-038-2 - 1999 György Szabados: Az események titkos története (The Secret History of the Events) Fonó Records FA-068-2
- 2000 György Szabados: Az ido múlása (Time Flies) November Music 20022
- 2004 Miklós Mákó/ György Szabados: A szépség szíve (The Heart of Beauty) Fonó Records FA-213-2
- 2005 Anthony BraxtonAnthony BraxtonAnthony Braxton is an American composer, saxophonist, clarinettist, flautist, pianist, and philosopher. Braxton has released well over 100 albums since the 1960s...
/Gyorgy Szabados/Vladimir TarasovVladimir TarasovVladimir Tarasov is a Russian animator and animation director. He studied at the Moscow Polygraphic Institute from 1965 until 1970....
: Triotone Leo 416 - 2006 György Szabados és Új Dimenzió Műhely: Elégia 1956 Logos
- 2007 György Szabados Szextett: Baltás zsoltár Győrfree Műhely/Harmónia (orig. 1973)
- 2007 György Szabados és a Makuz: Készülődés a csatára Győrfree Műhely/Harmónia (orig. 1987)
- 2008 György Szabados: Boldogasszony földje (Harangok) (Bells: The Land of Boldogasszony) BMC Records BMC CD 130