SZABADOS GYÖRGY
1939. July 13 - 2011. June 10. Budapest

Composer, pianist, an important figure across Europe in improvisational contemporary music. He was known for his approach to composition and free improvisational harmony, strongly influenced by jazz. However he was not strictly a jazz musician.

His extraordinary musical talents appeared early on; already improvising on piano as a child. He studied music privately. He earned a university diploma in medicine in 1963. Originally his world of music stood closer to free jazz. Later on, the basic elements of Hungarian musicality found their way into his compositions. From 1955 he performed regularly and formed his first band which played swing based jazz. In 1963 he gave his first completely freely improvised concert at the Dália Jazz Klub in Budapest.

In 1972 he and his ensemble won the grand prize at the San Sebastian International Jazz Festival in the free category. When performed at the Erkel Theatre in Budapest the same work caused a scandal. Throughout the 70s he played mainly at universities. In 1974 his first record “Az Esküvő” was released. He established a contemporary music workshop and took on students at the Kassák Klub in Budapest.

The 1980s brought more opportunities for concerts abroad, recording and more creative work. In 1980 he played with Anthony Braxton for the first time. In 1983 he founded MAKUZ which performed his ensemble works. He composed symphonic music for the Győri Ballet. In 2000 he established the SZAZEN Klub. In 2000 with MAKUZ he played with Roscoe Mitchell. He also played with: Peter Kowald, Johannes and Connie Bauer, Fred van Hove, Evan Parker, Jiří Stivín, Ernst-Ludwig Petrovsky, Klenyán Csaba, Vlagyimir Taraszov. He wrote ballet, dance opera, vocal works, historical songs, solo piano and chamber pieces and film music. His publications include works on music, essays, poetry, and music criticism.

His work was recognized in Hungary with the Liszt Prize in 1983, Neufeld Anna Award in 1995, the Hungarian Culture and the Szabó Gábor awards in 2000, the Hungarian Cross in 2004, the Aracs Főnix Award in 2006, and in 2011 with Hungary’s Kossuth Award. Szabados György was a member of the Hungarian Saint Crown Society.

For this evening’s concert drummer Geröly Tamás has invited 15 musicians to pay tribute to Szabados at the Fonó where Szabados himself performed many times.

Ajtai, Péter – double bass
Ávéd, János - saxophone
Baranyi, Bence - drums
Berta, Zalán – bass guitar
Boldi, Tamás - piano
Cseke, Dániel - saxophone
Dóczi, Bence - guitar
Gyárfás, Attila - drums
Hock, Ernő – double bass
Kováts, Zoltán Sándor – double bass
Kováts, Gergő - saxophone
Menyhért, Márton - guitar
Miklós, Szilveszter - drums
Pozsár, Máté - piano
Szelevényi, Vito – trumpet

Tickets: 1000 Ft (in advance),
1500 Ft (day of the concert)

Tickets and more information here: információ itt >>