Prímás Parade in Songlines
[2010-07-12 00:00:00]

In Hungarian, primás usually refers to the lead fiddler of a band, but other instrumentalists, such as the cimbalom player, could equally be the lead musician. Assembled for Primás Parade is a supergroup of musicians drawn from the folk, jazz, rock and classical scenes with a common root in traditional music. An entire primás group does conjure up an Orwellian paradox: everyone is a primás but some are more primás than others.

more>>

ÁGI SZALÓKI: A Vágy Muzsikál
[2010-03-02 00:00:00]

She may be hardly known outside Hungary or the Hungarian diaspora but Karády (1910-1990) is a diva from a bygone era on a par with Dietrich, Lenya, and Piaf - in other words that special kind for whom no forename will ever be necessary (in stark contrast to the cultural manoeuvring of a name like Madonna). Szalóki's live repertoire has long included a sprinkling of Karády material but here she has expanded on threads in her concert repertoire to create a whole themed album based on Karády. Karády even gets the torch or jazz, folk-jazz or lounge jazz treatment that slides into Latin territory on Ma Éjjel. Szalóki invigorates Karády's song book afresh.

more>>

Napra: Oh, What A World
[2010-03-01 00:00:00]

'What if Jimi Hendrix had heard the playing of a Transylvanian village prímás? What if Béla Bartók were to have heard Jimi Hendrix?' These are questions asked in the liner notes to this disc. Which is why this sounds like no other recording of Hungarian folk music.

more>>

To Embrace a Tree
[2009-11-12 00:00:00]

This is a folk singer who says even about herself that silence is the natural condition.  A contradiction? Not at all, since sound and silence complement one another just as do fire and water, body and soul, and also man and nature.  Iren Lovasz is endeavoring to achieve wholeness, and if possible, to help others toward this goal as well. And now in key words she tells us how.

more>>

SÖNDÖRGŐ & FERUS MUSTAFOV: In Concert
[2009-11-02 00:00:00]

It's rare that the great Macedonian Gypsy musician Ferus Mustafov releases anything new so this live album is a treat. A special treat as it is not Ferus and band - anyone who has heard their exceptional live concert album The Heart Of Balkan Gypsy Soul (Tropical) will be aware just how fierce that outfit is but Ferus guesting with young Hungarian tambura band Söndörgő.

more>>