Laszlo Gardony
Encyclopedia
Laszlo Gardony is an American jazz pianist / composer born in Hungary
who has released nine albums and leads his own trio.
, graduating in 1979.
In 1983 he moved to the United States on a full scholarship to study at Berklee College of Music
in Boston
. He formed a group "Forward Motion" with Tommy Smith
, Terje Gewelt
and Ian Froman.
He soon formed his first trio with Froman and Miroslav Vitous
with whom he recorded "The Secret" for the Antilles label. His second album, "The Legend of Tsumi" http://music.aol.com/album/legend-of-tsumi/106969 (Antilles) featured Dave Holland
http://www.daveholland.com/discography?catalog_listing_page=5#cataloglisting and Bob Moses.
In 1987, he won first prize at the Great American Jazz Piano Competition. Since 1987 he has been on the faculty at Berklee where he is Professor of Piano.
Gardony's first recording on the Sunnyside label was a critically acclaimed solo piano disc "Changing Standards". His next album, "Breakout" (Avenue Jazz Records) was released in 1994 and featured Mick Goodrick
on guitar as well as George Jinda (talking drum; udu), Satoshi Takeishi (taiko drums) and Stomu Takeishi (e. bass) http://www.answers.com/topic/breakout-1994-album-by-laszlo-gardony-1.
Gardony returned to Sunnyside in 2001 with a trio recording, "Behind Open Doors" which featured Jamey Haddad and John Lockwood.
Subsequently, Gardony has recorded four albums with bassist John Lockwood and drummer Yoron Israel, his working trio of nine years: "Ever Before Ever After" (Sunnyside) in 2003, "Natural Instinct" (Sunnyside) in 2006, "Dig Deep" (Sunnyside) in 2008 and "Signature Time" (Sunnyside) in 2011 "Signature Time" also features multi-instrmentalist, vocalist, Stan Strickland
on a few tracks as well as drummer Yoron Israel on the vibraphone.
Among other projects, he has also been involved in violinist Matt Glaser
's group, The Wayfaring Strangers, a fusion of bluegrass and jazz.
Gardony has performed with the Wayfaring Strangers at numerous venues and festivals including Symphony Hall with the Boston Pops, with the Utah Symphony in Salt Lake City and at Merlefest in North Carolina. Gardony has also performed with David "Fathead" Newman at several festivals. http://speakeasy.jazzcorner.com/speakeasy/showthread.php?t=7842 Both Randy Brecker
and Dave Liebman
have performed as guest soloists with Gardony's group. http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=2301
and for his uniformly high quality of compositions, harmonic complexity and emotional content which All About Jazz Magazine found to be on par with Bill Evans'. Jazz Review has described him as "a pianist worthy of praise within the highest pantheon of performers". Dave Brubeck called Gardony a "great pianist".
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...
who has released nine albums and leads his own trio.
Biography
Gardony studied at the Béla Bartók Conservatory 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...
, graduating in 1979.
In 1983 he moved to the United States on a full scholarship to study at Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music, it also offers college-level courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic styles, including hip...
in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
. He formed a group "Forward Motion" with Tommy Smith
Tommy Smith (saxophonist)
Tommy Smith is a jazz saxophonist, composer and educator. The late jazz critic Richard Cook said of him, 'Of the generation which emerged in the mid-80s, he might be the most outstandingly talented'.-Biography:...
, Terje Gewelt
Terje Gewelt
Terje Gewelt is a Norwegian jazz bassist.He grew up in Larvik, a small town on the southeastern coast. He started playing guitar at the age of 10, switched to electric bass at 14 and added acoustic bass at 17....
and Ian Froman.
He soon formed his first trio with Froman and Miroslav Vitous
Miroslav Vitouš
Miroslav Ladislav Vitouš , is a Czech jazz bassist.-Biography:Born in Prague, he began the violin at age six, and started playing the piano at age ten, and bass at fourteen. As a young man in Europe, Vitouš was a competitive swimmer. One of his early music groups was the Junior Trio with his...
with whom he recorded "The Secret" for the Antilles label. His second album, "The Legend of Tsumi" http://music.aol.com/album/legend-of-tsumi/106969 (Antilles) featured Dave Holland
Dave Holland
Dave Holland is an English jazz double bassist, composer and bandleader who has been performing and recording for five decades. He has lived in the United States for 40 years....
http://www.daveholland.com/discography?catalog_listing_page=5#cataloglisting and Bob Moses.
In 1987, he won first prize at the Great American Jazz Piano Competition. Since 1987 he has been on the faculty at Berklee where he is Professor of Piano.
Gardony's first recording on the Sunnyside label was a critically acclaimed solo piano disc "Changing Standards". His next album, "Breakout" (Avenue Jazz Records) was released in 1994 and featured Mick Goodrick
Mick Goodrick
Mick Goodrick is an American post bop jazz guitarist and educator most noteworthy for his work with vibraphonist Gary Burton's band from 1973 to 1976, where for part of that time he was playing alongside guitarist Pat Metheny...
on guitar as well as George Jinda (talking drum; udu), Satoshi Takeishi (taiko drums) and Stomu Takeishi (e. bass) http://www.answers.com/topic/breakout-1994-album-by-laszlo-gardony-1.
Gardony returned to Sunnyside in 2001 with a trio recording, "Behind Open Doors" which featured Jamey Haddad and John Lockwood.
Subsequently, Gardony has recorded four albums with bassist John Lockwood and drummer Yoron Israel, his working trio of nine years: "Ever Before Ever After" (Sunnyside) in 2003, "Natural Instinct" (Sunnyside) in 2006, "Dig Deep" (Sunnyside) in 2008 and "Signature Time" (Sunnyside) in 2011 "Signature Time" also features multi-instrmentalist, vocalist, Stan Strickland
Stan Strickland
-Career:Strickland has performed internationally; been featured on recordings of Bob Moses, Marty Erlich, Webster Lewis and Brute Force; performed with notable jazz musicians Yusef Lateef, Pharoah Sanders, Herbie Mann, Danilo Perez, Shirley Scott and Marlena Shaw; and has opened for Miles Davis and...
on a few tracks as well as drummer Yoron Israel on the vibraphone.
Among other projects, he has also been involved in violinist Matt Glaser
Matt Glaser
Matt Glaser is an American jazz and bluegrass violinist. He served as the chair of the string department at the Berklee College of Music for more than twenty-five years. He is now the founder and artistic director of Berklee's American Roots Music Program....
's group, The Wayfaring Strangers, a fusion of bluegrass and jazz.
Gardony has performed with the Wayfaring Strangers at numerous venues and festivals including Symphony Hall with the Boston Pops, with the Utah Symphony in Salt Lake City and at Merlefest in North Carolina. Gardony has also performed with David "Fathead" Newman at several festivals. http://speakeasy.jazzcorner.com/speakeasy/showthread.php?t=7842 Both Randy Brecker
Randy Brecker
Randal "Randy" Brecker is an American trumpeter and flugelhornist. He is a highly sought after performer in the genres of jazz, rock, and R&B, and has performed or recorded with Stanley Turrentine, Billy Cobham, Bruce Springsteen, Lou Reed, Sandip Burman, Charles Mingus, Blood, Sweat & Tears,...
and Dave Liebman
Dave Liebman
Dave Liebman is an American saxophonist and flautist. In June 2010, he received a NEA Jazz Masters lifetime achievement award from the National Endowment for the Arts.-Biography:...
have performed as guest soloists with Gardony's group. http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=2301
Critical reception
Gardony has been praised for his "fluid pianism" in The New York TimesThe New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
and for his uniformly high quality of compositions, harmonic complexity and emotional content which All About Jazz Magazine found to be on par with Bill Evans'. Jazz Review has described him as "a pianist worthy of praise within the highest pantheon of performers". Dave Brubeck called Gardony a "great pianist".