Management: Gramy Records - H-1092 Budapest, Ráday u. 40. e-mail: mail@gramy.hu - Phone: +36 1 217 1121 - Fax: +36 1 218 0166
05.06.2013.
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. The band played 3 times the Down And Up in Hungary and Croatia with a huge success.
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 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.
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
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: