Management: Gramy Records - H-1092 Budapest, Ráday u. 40. e-mail: mail@gramy.hu - Phone: +36 1 217 1121 - Fax: +36 1 218 0166
02.03.2012.
UPDATE 5.1
10th Anniversary 5.1 reissue on double DVD
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, Erdô, erdô,
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, Erdô, erdô (Petôfi 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: A lemezfelvétel, a turné és az eMeRTon díjátadás során készült fotók. 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.
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 41 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 24 trailer
11.24.2010.
Most of the Djabe titles can be ordered from the HackettSongs online shop
A review by Zoltán Gerébi on The World of Genesis website
There’s no concert like a club concert
Whenever I had the opportunity recently, I attended grand concerts. There are seldom things better than seeing spectacle and music meet. One of these seldom occasions is a club concert. Thanks to Djabe celebrating its 15th anniversary, once more we were given the chance to enjoy a fantastic club concert after the hugely successful concert at MÜPA (Palace of Arts); this time at Take Five (Club), where Steve Hackett’s guest appearance could be observed from only a few feet away.
At a grand concert, there is always a huge distance between musicians and audience. Somehow the boundary is always visible there even when the atmosphere is intimate. At a club concert, the dividing wall falls down between musicians and audience. As the size of a club cannot enable the musicians to be sealed off from their fans, you might easily get into a conversation with the performers. Moreover, you can witness them perform their compositions from a few steps away. At a concert like this, it doesn’t matter if the audience is not enchanted with lights, because this time everyone is keen on seeing how the wonder called music is born. When it is done by experts and the audience is willing to see it and feel the faintest vibe coming from the musicians, a harmony will arise to overwhelm all. Just like the way it happened on Monday night at Take Five.
The difference how this particular night was more than the others is difficult to pinpoint, it is suffice to say that everything panned out fine. Contrary to previous concerts at Take Five, this time rows of seats awaited the audience. As we arrived in time, our company occupied the two front rows. Due to the concise dimensions of the space, those getting the rear seats had no reason to complain, either, as they were also able to see all the happenings perfectly well.
When we arrived, the sound check was still going on and we got a bit frightened of the loud volume. Fortunately, the volume wasn’t overdone, so the hearing of the ones sitting in the front didn’t have to suffer impair. On the contrary, every sound was a feast to the ears.
Similarly to the MÜPA concert, the show began with the digital image of András Sipos perfroming with the help of a projector. Ferenc Muck was to first one to get onto the stage, who enchanted me with his perfect sounds again. When Ferenc Kovács joined him on his trumpet, sudden sounds were born of the mutual play of the two instruments. The second guest performer to appear was Steve Hackett and just like last time, Firth of Fifth was his first hit to play. The more I hear this solo live, which is perfect in itself as well, Steve performs it more wonderfully. Moreover, this time I was able to observe all his movements how he makes those sounds characteristic only of him emerge from his guitar. This fantastic Genesis hit is already performed by Djabe as one of their own, as I felt it with the other pieces by Steve Hackett. Besides, Steve is getting more and more confident in the world of Djabe. It is not by chance that they appear on stage more often. I am getting to like the new Djabe piece more, which was recorded with Steve to their new album getting out hopefully soon. We could hear Steve’s The Steppes once again, which sounded this time more intense. Then, to my surprise, once Steve cannot be seen with his own band in Hungary, we got a little taste of Steve’s latest album with the help of Djabe. It might of course seem natural as Last Train to Istanbul features Ferenc Kovács as a guest on the album. According to the introduction by Attila Égerházi, the piece could then be heard live for the second time only. The last Hackett piece was a Genesis hit again: the intensively orchestrated and with winds installed In that Quiet Earth, which featured three wind instruments already. The third guest, Áron Koós – Hutás completed the wind section, who got the opportunity to play solo during the evening, which was excellent, too.
It is obvious by now that Szilárd Banai is one of the best drummers of Hungary. He entertained the audience with exciting drum solos again. All the members of the band could be listed here one by one because there wasn’t a weak link this evening – as usual. The production was a whole that caused a magical effect without any extra spectacle, merely with music. I loved this concert even more than that at the MÜPA and was happy to see that this one was also recorded on more cameras. As for myself, I would be willing to purchase it as a separate disc because this gatehring in a friendly atmosphere proved to be a concert worthwhile to experience, which would deserve the chance to be seen if it came out.
The encore concert was followed by two more in Hungary, in Debrecen, than in Pécs. If those concerts were only half as good as this one, I would be very upset not having been able to see them.
Steve with guides, Helen and Tatyana
Take Five subterranean venue, Budapest
Ferenc and Steve, Pecs
It's been a wild ten days exploring new territory in Eastern Europe with Hungarian band Djabe.
After a night's stop-over at Attila Egerhazi's house in Budapest, we headed for Kaliningrad - my first glimpse of Russia. It's a beautiful city and the festival was held in a leafy park. The site is overlooked by a statue of a popular guitarist, Vladimir Visotsky, who sadly died young in 1980. The jam packed music festival was jumping and it was great to finally connect with the Russian fans, who were incredibly welcoming. It's strange to think that my music was once officially considered to be subversive there, but as my Hungarian friend Peter Pallai once said this made it sound all the sweeter. Special thanks to Helen and Tatyana, our bubbly translators and guides.
Next stop Budapest for the Take Five club, an exotic cave of a venue. The sound happened to be excellent. My guitar took off in my hands and surprised even me as it purred and growled with an intensity that you can never completely predict. The band was very much on form in front of their home crowd where all the high risk moments we went for came off. "Play magic fingers..." as my old pal Ian Mosely used to say - sometimes you feel you just switch on the ignition and the car drives itself - the spontaneous moments I absolutely live for...
Next day - historic Debrecen, second largest city in Hungary and Attila's home town. As we walked through a spacious street with fountains I was almost run over by one of those silent trams that crept up from behind, quieter than a bicycle but lethal for the unwary tourist! The gig was in the courtyard of a municipal building in front of a crowd whose ages ranged from three months to the elderly.
The final Hungarian gig was in another lovely old town, Pecs, in a cross between a circus tent and a rodeo. If John Wayne had walked in any moment I wouldn't have been the least bit surprised. At Pecs Djabe played the balls off their own material and mine. After the show we shot back to Budapest for three hours shut eye before flying from Vienna to Sophia, capital of Bulgaria. We then headed deep into the Bulgarian mountains, a rugged region the ancients knew as Thrace, the land of Orpheus. The terrain was dramatic and beautiful and I could see how it would have inspired that extraordinary myth which captured my imagination enough to create a whole album around the theme.
The crowd at the Bankso festival in Bulgaria seemed to know me even though this was my first visit. I heard some great music there, in particular an Egyptian band called Eftekasat, who incorporated a fantastic wooden wind instrument similar to the Armenian duduk into their palate of colours. It would be great to be part of that "Ransomed band in Heaven" one day...
The following day our journey took us through Macedonia, an equally wild area where Alexander the Great was born, and then on to Nics in Serbia. Here in front of a crowd of about 7,000 we played at a festival held within the walls of an old fortress. Our last gig the following day was also in Serbia, just outside its capital Belgrade. Again the music took off and I felt the spirit had been with us all along. Immediately after the show Djabe trumpeter Aron with team member Eva kindly drove Jo and me through the night all the way back to Budapest, where we had to catch an early morning flight back to the UK!
This was indeed an extraordinary experience - it's always an adventure with Djabe. Deepest thanks to Attila, his wife Dora and to all the Djabe team for all their kindness, friendship and inspiration.
Unforgettable experience! These two words can describe our 15 year anniversary concert. The tickets for the concert held at the Palace of Arts had already been sold out by the previous week. For a musician, this always means a good start. Besides, the technical and acoustic circumstances of the Festival Theatre are excellent, and the organisers and the technicians proved perfect partners.
We had compiled a show that would represent the past 15 years entirely. In order to be able to give the full picture, we had invited all the musicians and artists who had played an important role in our lives and who we share several concert memories with.
The invitation was welcome with every one of our musician friends. Thus, we looked forward with excitement to be together on stage once again with Muki, Malik, Ben and the others. Everyone arrived for the rehearsal held on 16th except for John Nugent, who was unable to come to Budapest due to a sudden death that had occurred.
The long-lasting afternoon rehearsal started with an informal, friendly chat. Everyone of us was in a good mood waiting for their turn in excitement because apart from the five of us (Szilu, Tomi, Ko, Feri and myself) all of us played together only in the encore song, in the other compositions only one, two or three guests played with us at the most. Due to its duration, the rehearsal was exhausting, yet full of good experiences. Malik, Steve and Ben were fantastic just like our Hungarian friends, Misi Dresch, Said, Viktor Tóth, Áron Koós – Hutás and dancer-choreographer Gábor Bakó. Muki’s (Feri Muck) positive and friendly attitude needs to be emphasized. It was great to hear the old Djabe saxophone sound and tunes. Steve Hackett was as usual: a humble, extremely professional musician, a wonderful friend with hits captivating everyone. (His blog written about the rehearsal and the concert can be read here.) We had not advertised it beforehand to keep it as a surprise that as the opening act we would play the songs Visions and Djabe along with Sipi with the help of modern technique. It is always a heartbreaking experience to rehearse with him with the help of a machine.
On 17th, we started to gather for lunch at the Palace of Arts. The good mood was elevated even more by Ben Castle’s chicken photography project , in which we also got a role. Everything went according to the plans, including the sound check, the rehearsals and eventually, the camera tests.
We had the feeling that the concert would take place in a strong, good atmosphere. This was justified by the frenetic applause after the first three songs, which kept on going throughout the concert. We played for three and a half hours. For the constant members it was bit tiring but it was worth it. It was a privilege to have our musician friends watch the whole concert from the stage. And when it was their turn to play, they were fantastic. It was a real Djabe celebration. In the encore, when everyone was on stage, together with dancers there were 15 of us. 15 artists, 15 great years.
A concert DVD is in production.
Many were unable to see the concert as all the tickets had been sold out. Since we are staying in Budapest with Steve between our Russian and Serbian tours, we have decided to have a Djabe 15 Encore concert on 9th August at the Take Five Klub, where we will be joined on stage by the Hungarian musicians, Feri Muck, Said and Áron Koós – Hutás as well. Further details to follow shortly.
We wish to say thank you to all the Djabe fans, listeners and supporters for the past 15 years.
It was fab to play with Djabe again when I joined the band for its 15th anniversary show on 17 May 2010 in Budapest, complete with musicians from far and wide.
What struck me particularly this time was the breadth of ethnic diversity. On the rehearsal day we gathered in the studio - an amazing place created by Attila that Jo and I describe as the "Underground Temple"! It's entered via steps that descend into a kind of anti-chamber followed by a beautiful long room lined with Attila's father's evocative spiritual paintings. At a huge table we all gathered here for a fantastic hot meal, where it was great to get together with everyone, including Roy Castle's son Ben, dynamic multi-instrumentalist who toured with me in Italy about ten years ago just after I guested on his Postmankind album with Ian Mosely. Beyond this room is an area that houses an extraordinary collection of ethnic instruments from the four corners of the globe, including an array of primitive and ancient looking weird shaped percussion. It's like an Aladdin's cave. Finally you reach the recording area and inner sanctum of the studio itself, where each time I go I hear an extraordinary combination of musical brainchildren from around the world.
The concert the following day, held in the Palace of Arts in Budapest, was a magical fusion of sounds. It was a joy to hear the haunting strains of Ferenc Kovacs' gypsy violin playing alongside Malik Mansurov's tar from Azerbaidjan. An ancient instrument going back at least three thousand years, its sound echoes and bends almost like a sitar, but with its own mysterious energy. I loved hearing Mihali Dresch's homemade primal woodwind instrument, the Fuhunna resembling the Armenian Dudduk that just has to be heard to be believed. From the far south of Morocco hails Said Tichiti with his Guembri (stringed instrument) and tabla drums (Darbuka and Djambe) that all evoked the soul of the desert, crying with a tribal heartbeat. These amazing instruments wove around Zoltan's dynamic keyboards, Aron's, Ben's and Ferenc's exuberant brass, Szilard's powerful drums, Attila's guitar and Hungarian folk whistle and my guitar. At one point the extraordinary team was joined by three dancers, moving in unison with a unique sense of fluidity, paralleling the amazing diversity of the band and the name Djabe, which means "Freedom" in Ashanti.
It was a magical evening for all of us and was rapturously received by the packed house. My thanks to Attila, Djabe and also the promoters who made this fantastic evening possible.
Djabe celebrates 15 years
Jubilee tour special guest Steve Hackett
Guest:
Steve Hackett (UK)
John Nugent (USA)
Ben Castle (UK)
Malik Mansurov (AZ)
Áron Koós-Hutás
Mihály Dresch
Viktor Tóth
Ferenc Muck
Said Tichiti
Gábor Bakó
Djabe celebrate their 15th anniversary this year, which gives them the opportunity to start their jubilee tour. The concerts will feature Steve Hackett, former guitarist of Genesis. At the Palace of Arts, all notable international and Hungarian performers are going to join the band who have played an essential part in the history of the band in the past 15 years, namely: Steve Hackett (GB), John Nugent (USA), Malik Mansurov (AZ), Áron Koós-Hutás, Mihály Dresch, Viktor Tóth, Ferenc Muck, Said Tichiti, Gábor Bakó.
The collaboration of Djabe and Steve Hackett is no new as they have been working together since 2003. Steve was featured on the album entitled Táncolnak a kazlak, which was followed by a joint performance in London. This collaboration got stronger between them in 2007. Steve played an important role in filling the Petőfi Csarnok (Hall) for the charity concert held in memoriam András Sipos. The performance inspired Djabe and Steve in such an extent that they decided to stay together and undertake joint performances in the future. Since then they have given several memorable concerts in Latvia, Romania, Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Malaysia. In Garan, Romania, 13 thousand people cheered during a performance.
Djabe’s jazz/world fusion style and Steve’s roots in rock music complement each other at performances brilliantly. The ex-guitarist of Genesis loves to join the performance of Djabe tunes giving the well-known Djabe sound a fresh update with his solos. Tamás Barabás and his mates in return love to play Steve’s compositions and classic Genesis pieces as well. The programme is put together well, where In that Quiet Earth and Firth of Fifth by Genesis fit perfectly with Clouds Dance, Erdő, erdő or Fátyol mögött by Djabe. Each piece keeps its own characteristics but they are sounded in a new synthesis by the featured musicians. Wherever the Djabe special guest Steve Hackett production travels in the world, audiences receive them everywhere with erupting enthusiasm. Steve’s personality, legendary guitar play and Djabe are the guarantee for it.
The mutual musical ideas are also shown by the fact that Djabe play Steve’s composition The Steppes almost as their own. The British guitarist asked for the Djabe song Distant Dance, which was recorded in Budapest, for his own album. Thus the collaboration is not limited merely to the concerts. Moreover, member of Djabe was featured on Steve’s new album Out of the Tunnel’s Mouth, and he has already recorded several guitar stripes for Djabe’s upcoming studio album.
During their 15 year career, Djabe have been awarded the honouring title of the best Hungarian jazz/world fusion band. The band was founded by Attila Égerházi (guitar) and András Sipos (vocal, percussion). Their self-titled first album came out in 1996. Since the following year, they have given concerts permanently until this very day. Between the years 1997 and 2000 they have worked as a quartet. With the founders, Tamás Barabás (bass guitar) and Ferenc Muck (saxophone) formed the band. Their 1998 album entitled Witchi Tai To was awarded by the Hungarian Records Publishers as the best world music album. Since then, all their serial recordings have been awarded to the Hungarian music award.
In 2001, the band grew to six members. Apart from the tragic death of Sipos András in 2007, the band has been working in the same line-up: Szilárd Banai on drums, Tamás Barabás on bass guitar, Attila Égerházi on guitar, Ferenc Kovács on trumpet and violin and Zoltán Kovács on piano.
The major tasks of the posts of musical director and composer have gradually been taken over by Tamás Barabás from Attila Égerházi. This way, the sound of Djabe has moved from world music to jazz in a certain extent. Barabás is also the internationally renowned sound engineer of the band’s recordings. With the loss of András Sipos and the introduction of the authentic folk violin play and singing style of Ferenc Kovács, the African and latin world music elements were exchanged by Hungarian music motifs.
They received an eMeRTon award for their 2001 album entitled Update. This CD gave them the opportunity of international performances. Since 2002, Djabe have performed in 41 countries in Europe, North America and Asia. They have been guests to such festivals as Pori Jazz (Finland), Burghausen Jazzwoche (Germany), Rigas Ritmi (Latvia), Stockholmjazz (Sweden), Kaunas Jazz (Lithuania), Dubrovnik Summerfest (Croatia), Jazz Sommer Graz (Austria), Penang Island Jazz Festival (Malaysia), Dubai International Jazz Festival (United Arab Emirates), Rochester International Jazz (NY, USA), San Jose Jazz (CA, USA), Giant Steppes Jazz Festival (Mongolia) etc.
The DVD-Audio version of their album Táncolnak a kazlak was nominated for Surround Music Award in Los Angeles in 2004. The technical solutions used by Djabe in studio and concerts have since received appreciation from both the Hungarian and international audiences, as well as within the groves of professionals.
The music of Djabe is characteristic of individual compositions and virtuoso solos, which – in comparison to the studio recordings – become even better during concerts. The bass guitar play of Tamás Barabás is well-known from Malaysia to Los Angeles. His talent has been noted by the marketing managers of the world’s leading guitar and amplifier manufacturers. The drumming talents of Szilárd Banai have enchanted many internationally acclaimed drummers and audiences of course throughout the world. In 2009 he received the “Golden Drumstick Award’. Ferenc Kovács can achieve high standards on two alternate instruments. Among those international stars who prefer working with him, Archie Shepp claimed “apart from being one of the best violinists of the world, he can play the trumpet like Miles Davis.” Zoltán Kovács is responsible for the texture of the band’s sound while being able to perform incredibly musical and virtuoso solos. The guitar play of band leader Attila Égerházi is an essential element in Djabe’s music.
The band has invited several outstanding Hungarian and international musicians since 2001 to participate on their albums and in their concerts. For the 15 year anniversary performance they have managed to invite those musician friends who have played a most important role.
John Nugent (tenor and soprano saxophone) became famous as a prominent member of Canadian jazz in the 1980s. He performed with such American stars as Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, he is a member of Woody Herman Orchestra, and his albums feature Al Foster and David Liebman as well. Currently, he is the artistic director of the RochesterJazz, NY Festival, which brought him together with Djabe. He was featured on the band’s Take On album, then he participated in its promotion tour. As a guest of the Djabe/Steve Hackett production, he performed at the jazz festival in the Hague.
John regards Djabe as “one of the best fusion bands in the world.”
Ben Castle (tenor and soprano saxophone, flute) arrived as the seventh musicians for the recordings of the Update album when the band expanded to six members. Later, he joined its promotion tour. He is featured on the DVD of this tour entitled Flying, and on other concert albums. Although he hasn’t participated in the Djabe concerts since 2002, his fantastic play can be heard on three following studio albums (Táncolnak a kazlak, 2003; Életképek, 2005; Take On, 2008). He has performed with Sting, the Brand New Heavies, Jamie Cullumn and several other stars.
Malik Mansurov (tar) is a professor of the ancient folk instrument, the tar at the Academy of Music in Baku, Azerbaijan. He is the best known tar player in the world, the international ambassador of the traditional mugham music. Djabe asked him to perform with them together in their 2007 Baku guest appearance. Following it, he played on the band’s Take On album and participated in its promotion tour.
Mihály Dresch (tenor and soprano saxophone, pipe) was invited by an old fellow-musician, Ferenc Kovács to the András Sipos Memorial Concert held on 30 November, 2007. After the success of the performance, he followed the band to several more concerts in Hungary and abroad. He also took part in the recordings of Djabe and Steve Hackett made in Budapest.
Áron Koós-Hutás (trumpet). Áron is the newcomer of the year 2008. He attracted the attention by winning the trumpet-contest of the Hungarian Radio. He has been working together with Djabe since 2009, first of all to back up Ferenc Kovács, if he is not able to take part at the Djabe concert. However, the cooperation of Djabe and Áron didn't stop here, because he played with the band many times together with Ferenc Kovács. He is a versatile musician, his play is chiseled and really enjoyable.
Viktor Tóth (alto saxophone) toured Europe and the USA as a member of Djabe in the years 2004 and 2005. A Djabe live recording with Viktor can be heard on the DVD version of the album Slices of life.
Muck Ferenc (tenor and soprano saxophone) was the member of the band between 1997 and 2000. His play determined the sound of the first four albums. His composition Coffee Break made Djabe get into the programmes of commercial radios.
Said Tichiti (vocal, gembri, percussion) is of Moroccan descent drawing on his own folk roots. He was first featured on the Update album, since 2002 he has toured with Djabe several times in Hungary and abroad as well. He can be heard on the Unplugged in New Orleans (2003) and Sipi Emlékkoncert (2009) concert albums.
Gábor Bakó (dance, choreography) was the choreographer and dance captain of the dance productions during the 1998 and 1999 Djabe tours.
20 April: Erdei Ferenc Művelődési Központ (Community Centre), Kecskemét 21 April: Kölcsey Központ (Centre), Debrecen 22 April: AGORA Szombathelyi Kulturális Központ (Cultural Centre), Szombathely 17 May: gala performance at the Palace of Arts, Budapest
02.18.2010.
Djabe/Steve Hackett: Sipi benefit concert 2CD and 2DVD are distributed online by HackettSongs online shop
Thanks to the agreement of Gramy Records and HackettSongs online shop, the Djabe/Steve Hackett: Sipi benefit concert 2 CD and 2 DVD can be ordered online from The HackettSongs online shop from all over the World. This is the official Steve Hackett online store, where you can buy the latest Hackett releases.
The prices are:
Djabe/Steve Hackett: Sipi benefi concert 2 CD GBP 11.91 + VAT + Shipping
Djabe/Steve Hackett: Sipi benefi concert 2 DVD GBP 13.61 + VAT + Shipping
In 2007, Steve joined forces with old friends Djabe, Hungary’s preeminent Jazz/World fusion band, to perform a benefit concert for the family of their late percussionist Andras Sipos, known to all as Sipi. In front of a packed concert venue in Budapest, Steve and Djabe perform more than two hours of material, including Steve’s solo acoustic medley.
This DVD release contains the whole concert spread across two DVDs. Additional bonus material includes, on Disc 1, one of Sipi’s last performances, recorded by Serbian Television at the Nišville Jazz in Niš, Serbia. Disc 2 includes “What happened on 30th November…” , a ‘behind the scenes’ documentary about the Sipi concert.
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:
Guest:
02.18.2010.